ENT surgery

My ENT doctor will be performing a cervical neck exploration in conjunction with a neurosurgeon who will be doing a cervical laminectomy. Would anyone know what CPT® code I would use for that? I've looked in the book but can't find what I'm looking for. He tells me they will both use the 62 modifier. Any ideas???

re: ENT surgery

I'm sort of in the same boat. My ENT doctor is performing the approach for C spine interbody fusion. He is only documenting the approach and the other doctor also is stating that my doctor is performing the approach but they are both billing with modifier 62. So if anyone is familiar with these scenerios, please help us.

re: ENT surgery

PENTA: The code for the approach for the lami depends on why the neurosurgeon is performing the laminectomy...is it for discectomy, decompression, etc...There are many options to choose from so the best thing to do is to inquire with the neurosurgeon or his coding staff on that one before you bill it. Whichever code you are directed to use should be billed with the 62 modifier to indicate his portion of the procedure.

ch76606: Again, it depends on the exact procedure the other surgeon is performing as to which code you would bill (either 22551 or 22554), but it would indeed be billed with a 62 modifier. Your physician has to document a separate op note for his portion of the case.

re: ENT surgery

Ok good. He IS documenting his portion of the case. So I coded ONE right at least. LOL! Now this other one that I'm looking at, it's the same patient and they are performing a revision during post op. The neurosurgeon says that he is not billing with modifier 62 but lists my doctor as co surgeon and even states that he performed the approach. My doctor dictated his portion of the approach as well. Are revisions coded any different?

re: ENT surgery

To my knowledge and based on the experiences I've had, if one surgeon is performing an approach for another surgeon, even for a revision, both surgeons would bill that code with the 62 modifier.

re: ENT surgery

Thank you so much! You have been more help than you realize! :)

re: ENT surgery

Glad to help. :)