Orthopedic Coding: Additional Neurostimulator & Arthrodesis Codes

Your orthopedic practice will enjoy the additional neurostimulator and arthrodesis codes as far as the new and revised CPT codes for your orthopedic practice in 2011 is concerned.

This time your orthopedic practice will enjoy the additional neurostimulator and arthrodesis codes as far as the new and revised CPT codes for your orthopedic practice in 2011 is concerned. You'll be required to report arthrodesis procedures that include discectomy, osteophytectomy and spinal cord decompression with two just-in bundled codes: 22551, 22552.

Since 22552 is an add-on code, you would report it with 22551 to reflect any additional interspace the neurosurgeon treats below C2. Prior to this, bundled procedure would have been reported as 63075 for the discectomy, osteophytectomy and spinal cord/nerve decompression and 22554-51 for the arthrodesis. This is one of several code pairs which were used together more than 90 percent of the time, leading CMS to request a bundled code from CPT.

Now you'll be able to describe fully tibial and cranial neurostimulator services with four new codes: 64566, 64568, 64569 and 64570. And if your neurosurgeon carries out chemodenervation, you'll have a new code to code for work on the salivary glands: 64611.

This year don't let code descriptor changes trip you up when you turn to 20664 for halo application, as the revision this time does away with the phrase "requiring general anesthesia:" 20664 (Revised). Add-on allograft codes 20930 and 20931 received changes, which will be for 2011: 20930 (Revised) and 20931 (Revised).

The development of many bone graft extenders including demineralized bone matrix and bone morphogenic protein led to frequent questions regarding the appropriate coding for these materials. The revision of 20930 places these materials in the same category as other non-structural bone extenders that are not obtained directly from the patient being tended to." Closed vertebral facture code 22315 now deletes the phrase with or without anesthesia: 22315 (Revised) and code 22851.