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tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2001 Issue 10
Reader Question: Bilateral Ligation of Temporal Artery
Question: My surgeon frequently performs bilateral ligations or biopsies of the temporal artery. Although 37609 does not indicate multiple arteries, according to the CMS fee schedule it cannot be billed bilaterally. How should I code this to get reimbursed for both sides? Indiana Subscriber
Answer: Temporal artery ligations are typically performed with biopsy. Such biopsies are usually performed when the patient has pain in the temple or blindness in an eye and, therefore, most surgeons perform them on one side (the symptomatic, or ipsilateral side) only. If the surgeons documentation shows the medical necessity for performing the...
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