tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2010 Issue 6

Reader Questions: You Can't Assume Separate 'On-Q' Pay

Question: Our surgeon inserted a paraspinal On-Q pump for pain control for multiple rib fractures. We've been told to report 21800 for each rib. But the surgeon placed the pump in the area to cover multilevel rib fractures, so I'm thinking 62350 is more appropriate -- what do you think?Minnesota SubscriberAnswer: You'll need to follow payer guidelines -- which may not match manufacturer billing advice -- for the On-Q pain pump. Many payers will not pay separately for inserting the pump because the work is nominal and they consider it part of the surgical procedure.Although 21800 (Closed...

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