AMA CPT® Assistant - 2006 Issue 4 (April)

Surgery: Digestive System-- Intestines (Except Rectum) (April 2006)

April 2006 page 20 Digestive System - Intestines (Except Rectum), 44188, 44970 (Q&A) Question When a patient undergoes a laparoscopic appendectomy and a laparoscopic colostomy, is it appropriate to report codes 44970, Laparoscopy, surgical, appendectomy, and 44188, Laparoscopy, surgical, colostomy or skin level cecostomy? AMA Comment According to the parenthetical notes that follow code 44188, it is not appropriate to report 44188 in conjunction with 44970. Since the appendectomy would be considered incidental to the colectomy, it would not be separately reportable. Digestive System - Intestines (Except Rectum), 44188, 44970 (Q&A). CPT® Assistant. 2006; April 2006 page...

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CPT® Assistant content is the official source for CPT® coding guidance. It is an instrumental tool when appealing insurance denials and validating coding to auditors. Monthly issues and an extensive archive provide comprehensive guidance on proper CPT® coding for past, present and upcoming code set releases. Archives date back to 1990 for historical use of codes, changes, rationales, coding tips and trends in the industry.

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