Query: Billing Multiple Decompression of Nerves
We have a patient that will be having the
following procedures
performed on her right foot in the near future:
- decompression of the medial plantar nerve;
- decompression of the lateral plantar nerve;
- decompression of the deep peroneal nerve, and
- decompression of the superficial peroneal
nerve.
How do I bill this without being denied for
bundling with other
nerves?
Janie Donato
Seaford, DE
Codingline Response: At that level of the foot
and ankle, the medial
and lateral plantar nerve and the posterior
tibial nerve are all
interconnected, and part of the same nerve all
released through the
same incision. CPT 28035 (tarsal tunnel release;
posterior tibial
nerve decompression) is the single code to bill
when releasing both
the medial and lateral plantar nerve in this
case.
At the level of the foot and ankle, the deep and
superficial nerves
are separate. If decompressed through two
separate incisions, CPT
64704 (neuroplasty, nerve of foot) should be
billed two times.
Walter J Pedowitz, MD
Linden, NJ
