Learn to Correctly Code for Spine Surgery and Co-Surgery

In coding assessments for spine surgery, one of the most common errors in spine coding is coding the appropriate codes based on the number of vertebral segments or interspaces involved. Another real common error is following the guidelines, depending on the insurance carrier, to represent services when co-surgery is involved, and knowing when to assign modifier 62, and what to do for those CPT® codes that will not be reimbursed for co-surgery.

Join this session, where coding specialist Lynn M. Anderanin, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CPPM, COSC will discuss the itemized coding that is spine surgery, as well as the unique situations of co-surgery for these complex cases. Frequently, multiple levels of the spine are involved in procedures involving the musculoskeletal system as well as the nervous system requiring the use of CPT® codes from the 20000 and 60000 code ranges. There are also some interesting guidelines from Medicare about reporting co-surgery, different from what CPT® directs us to report. Because of these differences, co-surgery claims to Medicare have different modifier assignments than to commercial carriers.

This session will also discuss the 2018 changes in the CMS NCCI Policy Manual that may result in a change in how you are reporting instrumentation to insurance carriers following NCCI guidelines.

After this session, you will have the necessary knowledge in spine surgery coding so that money is not left on the table. Often, these cases involve several hours of complex surgery that include working around the spinal cord. Physicians performing these surgeries need to be paid for the all services performed, and with this session you will have the information on coding, as well as the information to share with your physicians related to what you can do when documenting these services to help in ultimate reimbursement. Because of the multiple codes involved in these cases, very often they are manually reviewed by a claims processor rather than a computer – this session will help you ensure they are reviewed properly.

Session Highlights:

This session will cover:

• CPT® coding for spine by the approach used
• Decompression of nerves for spinal stenosis vs. herniated discs
• The difference in CPT® coding related to interspace and vertebral segment
• CMS relative value file information as to what CPT® codes can be reported as co-surgery or assistant at surgery
• CPT® manual parentheticals and guidelines about co-surgery and assistants at surgery
• 2018 CMS NCCI policy manual guideline changes related to biomechanical devices
• Appropriate coding when performing services that crossover areas of the spine
• Interchanging add-on codes for fusion and when to use them

Who Should Attend?

• Physicians, neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons
• Coders
• Surgery schedulers
• Billers
• Insurance collectors
• Qualified healthcare professionals