Discover the levels for primary procedure as well as biopsy.
Read in the procedure note in case your surgeon carried put a bone biopsy while doing the vertebroplasty. In case the vertebroplasty and biopsy are at the same level, you are not supposed to report any additional bone biopsy codes for CPT. Look at examples below to brace your vertebroplasty reporting for error free medical coding.
Note the Change in Code Descriptor(s)
The CPT codes for vertebroplasty include a definite revision in the code descriptors which clearly states that you must include the bone biopsy when one is carried out. The revisions in code descriptors listedbelow:
22520 (Percutaneous vertebroplasty [bone biopsy included when performed], 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; thoracic)
22521 (Percutaneous vertebroplasty [bone biopsy included when performed], 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; lumbar)
+22522 (Percutaneous vertebroplasty [bone biopsy included when performed], 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; each additional thoracic or lumbar vertebral body [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure])
The revision in these codes for CPT includes bone biopsy included when carried out.
The descriptor clearly describes that the bone biopsy is included when your surgeon does one.
Do Not Look To Additional Codes for Bone Biopsy
While you report vertebroplasty in 2012, you will not report an additional bone biopsy CPT code 20225 (Biopsy, bone, trocar, or needle; deep [eg, vertebral body, femur]) in case your surgeon carres out the biopsy at the similar spinal level as the primary procedure. This is due to the removal of bone tissue is inclusive in the vertebroplasty procedure and does not require additional procedure when the same is carried out to retrieve the tissue for a biopsy. Henceforth, you do not report the bone biopsy your surgeon performs at the same level as the vertebroplasty.
When your surgeon does the vertebroplasty and bone biopsy at different levels, you report the biopsy separately with modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service). Ensure your surgeon documents the unrelated nature and distinct locations of the two procedures.
Location Guides Your Choice of Codes
The CPT codes of SuperCoder.com for vertebroplasty identify the location as lumbar or thoracic in the descriptor. The spinal location determines the CPT code you select. You choose a code to define the primary level where your surgeon carried out the procedure. You report CPT code 22520 for vertebroplasty at levels T1-T12 or 22521 for levels L1-L5. While the procedure spans to another level in the same location, you must also report CPT code +22522 in addition to 22520 or 22521.
Read in the procedure note in case your surgeon carried put a bone biopsy while doing the vertebroplasty. In case the vertebroplasty and biopsy are at the same level, you are not supposed to report any additional bone biopsy codes for CPT. Look at examples below to brace your vertebroplasty reporting for error free medical coding.
Note the Change in Code Descriptor(s)
The CPT codes for vertebroplasty include a definite revision in the code descriptors which clearly states that you must include the bone biopsy when one is carried out. The revisions in code descriptors listedbelow:
22520 (Percutaneous vertebroplasty [bone biopsy included when performed], 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; thoracic)
22521 (Percutaneous vertebroplasty [bone biopsy included when performed], 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; lumbar)
+22522 (Percutaneous vertebroplasty [bone biopsy included when performed], 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; each additional thoracic or lumbar vertebral body [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure])
The revision in these codes for CPT includes bone biopsy included when carried out.
The descriptor clearly describes that the bone biopsy is included when your surgeon does one.
Do Not Look To Additional Codes for Bone Biopsy
While you report vertebroplasty in 2012, you will not report an additional bone biopsy CPT code 20225 (Biopsy, bone, trocar, or needle; deep [eg, vertebral body, femur]) in case your surgeon carres out the biopsy at the similar spinal level as the primary procedure. This is due to the removal of bone tissue is inclusive in the vertebroplasty procedure and does not require additional procedure when the same is carried out to retrieve the tissue for a biopsy. Henceforth, you do not report the bone biopsy your surgeon performs at the same level as the vertebroplasty.
When your surgeon does the vertebroplasty and bone biopsy at different levels, you report the biopsy separately with modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service). Ensure your surgeon documents the unrelated nature and distinct locations of the two procedures.
Location Guides Your Choice of Codes
The CPT codes of SuperCoder.com for vertebroplasty identify the location as lumbar or thoracic in the descriptor. The spinal location determines the CPT code you select. You choose a code to define the primary level where your surgeon carried out the procedure. You report CPT code 22520 for vertebroplasty at levels T1-T12 or 22521 for levels L1-L5. While the procedure spans to another level in the same location, you must also report CPT code +22522 in addition to 22520 or 22521.
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