Query: Ankle Arthroscopy Billing
Can one combine any of the arthroscopy codes
when billing for procedures done on the same
ankle during the same surgery?
If an extensive debridement was done, loose
bodies removed, and a synovectomy performed
during the same ankle arthroscopy, can any
combination (or all) of the codes, CPT 29898
(ankle arthroscopy with extensive debridement),
CPT 29894 (ankle arthroscopy with removal of
loose body), and CPT 29895 (ankle arthroscopy
with partial synovectomy) be billed?
Vadim Glukh, DPM
Richmond Heights, OH
Codingline Response: These three procedures are
all part of a hierarchy of ankle arthroscopy
codes.
If what you did an ankle arthroscopy procedure
that included all synovectomy, removal of loose
body, and debridement, then I would pick the
single more comprehensive arthroscopy procedure
code, CPT 28298 (arthroscopy, ankle [tibiotalar
and fibulotalar joints], surgical; extensive
debridement) with the highest relative value
unit allowance of the three.
Walter J Pedowitz, MD
Linden, NJ
