August 2006 page 10c
Surgery: Digestive System, 47379 (Q&A)
Question
What is the appropriate code to
report for a laparoscopic liver biopsy?
AMA Comment
The CPT code set does not
contain a code that specifically identifies this
procedure. Therefore, it would be most appropriate
to report code 47379, Unlisted laparoscopic
procedure, liver.
When reporting an unlisted code to describe a
procedure or service, it will be necessary to submit
supporting documentation (eg, procedure
report) along with the claim to provide an adequate
description of the nature, extent, and need
for the procedure and the time, effort, and equipment...
Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This premium article presents a CPT coding question-and-answer item from the August 2006 Surgery: Digestive System section. It is aimed at coders and billers who need guidance on identifying the appropriate CPT reporting category for a laparoscopic liver biopsy and on understanding the documentation expectations associated with unlisted procedure reporting. The content focuses on a narrow coding scenario and the general administrative considerations that accompany it.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate reporting of procedures without a specific CPT descriptor is a common coding challenge, and this article helps readers recognize when an unlisted procedure code category is involved and what supplemental documentation is expected.
Article Sections
August 2006 page 10c
A brief Q&A item from the Surgery: Digestive System series in the August 2006 issue. It addresses a procedure-reporting question within the context of CPT coding.
What You Will Learn
How this Digestive System Q&A article is structured
The general topic of CPT reporting for a laparoscopic liver biopsy
Why unlisted procedure reporting may be discussed in this context
What type of supporting documentation is associated with unlisted procedure claims
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