Description:

Spine surgery is performed by orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and even cardio-thoracic and general surgeons.  The trick to coding these cases is identifying the anatomy involved and then assigning the appropriate CPT® codes based on matching the CPT® codes with those areas of the spine.  There is frequently a combination of codes used, and understanding the surgical approach is also critical in coding these cases.

Areas Covered in the session:

The expectations of this conference are that the attendee upon the completion of the conference should have an understanding of coding spine surgery utilizing 20000 codes as well as 60000 codes of CPT® the 2018 changes that are affecting spine surgery coding, as well as review current guidelines for services for Medicare and other commercial insurance carriers.

Why should you attend?

• Identifying the surgical approach to determine the CPT® codes ranges.
• Understanding the difference in coding for vertebral segment vs. interspace.
• Modifier assignment for assistants, co-surgery, and staged procedures.
• Laminectomy or laminotomy, which one to choose.
• Interchangeable add-on to report specific levels of the spine involved to avoid denials for duplicate claim lines.
• New codes for spine procedures in 2018.
• NCCI policy changes that affect spinal instrumentation.  New rules in 2018!

Who should Attend?

Physicians,  auditors, coders, billers, medical assistants, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, scribes