tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2002 Issue 6

Reader Question: Stand-alone J-tube

Question: Should I code a stand-alone J-tube as 49000 (Exploratory laparotomy, exploratory celiotomy with or without biopsy[s] [separate procedure]) with $0 and +44015 (Tube or needle catheter jejunostomy for enteral alimentation, intraoperative, any method [list separately in addition to primary procedure])? Connecticut SubscriberAnswer: Absolutely not. Code 44015 is an add-on code and can be billed only with another abdominal surgical procedure, not a diagnostic procedure. The correct code would be 44300 (Enterostomy or cecostomy, tube [e.g., for decompression or feeding] [separate procedure]).   ...

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