tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2017 Issue 11

Reader Question: Beware Enterolysis Billing

Question: The surgeon performed an open partial colectomy with anastomosis. During the procedure, the surgeon documented take-down of extensive adhesions from previous surgeries, spending an hour and 10 minutes lysing adhesions before accessing and resolving the colectomy. Can we code for this extensive enterolysis using a code such as 44005? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: No, you should not bill 44005 (Enterolysis [freeing of intestinal adhesion] [separate procedure]) in addition to the appropriate code for the case, 44140 (Colectomy, partial; with anastomosis). Similarly, if the procedure had been laparoscopic, the correct code would be 44204 (Laparoscopy, surgical; colectomy, partial, with anastomosis)...

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