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CODING & BILLING
removal of the soft
tissue and bone. The
AMA did not define
the term "extensive"
in the guideline, so
orthopedic surgeons
at your ASC should
have internal criteria
for what constitutes
extensive shoulder
PAYMENT IMPLICATIONS Changes to the CPT code set
will impact surgical centers using the October 2012 Medicare
ASC payment rates.
debridement (AMA, April 2012).
Code: 29822, Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; debridement, limited
Medicare ASC Reimbursement:
$1,198.06
Code: 29823, Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; debridement, extensive
Medicare ASC Reimbursement:
$2,303.22
• Flexor tenosynovectomy and carpal tunnel repair. If a patient has a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, a separate pathologic diagnosis such
as rheumatoid arthritis or tenosynovitis, and both a flexor tenosynovectomy and carpal tunnel repair are performed, report code 25115
in addition to the carpal tunnel repair code (AMA, June 2012).
D E C E M B E R 2012 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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