61781, 61782, 61783 Improve Your Stereotactic Procedure Accuracy

Plus, know how to code CPT 61782

In 2011, additional stereotaxis and arthrodesis codes were just two of the benefits in the new and revised codes your neurosurgery practice had on hand.

Make Possibility for Further Arthrodesis Specificity

From last year, you are required to report arthrodesisprocedures that involve discectomy, osteophytectomy and spinal cord decompression with two novel bundled CPT codes:

22551 - (Arthrodesis, anterior interbody, including disc space preparation, discectomy, osteophytectomy and decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve roots; cervical below C2)

22552 - (Arthrodesis, anterior interbody, including disc space preparation, discectomy, osteophytectomy and decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve roots; cervical below C2, each additional interspace (List separately in addition to code for separate procedure))

CPT Code Lookup Tip: CPT code 22552, remember, is an add-on code, so you would report it with 22551 to reflect any added interspace the neurosurgeon treats below C2. Earlier, this bundled procedure would have been reported as 63075 (Discectomy, anterior, with decompression of spinal cord and/ or nerve root[s], including osteophytectomy; cervical, single interspace) for the discectomy, osteophytectomy and spinal cord/nerve decompression and CPT codes 22554-51 (Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace [other than for decompression]; cervical below C2) (Reduced services) for the arthrodesis. This is one of numerous code pairs which were used collectively more than 90 percent of the time, encouraging CMS to request a bundled code from CPT."

Add More Stereotaxis, Neurostimulator CPT Codes

Three new stereotactic navigational codes, introduced in 2011, will rise your capability for reporting cranial and spinal procedures when your neurosurgeon uses stereotactic guidance.

CPT 61781 - (Stereotactic computer-assisted (navigational) procedure; cranial, intradural (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))

CPT 61782 - (Stereotactic computer-assisted (navigational) procedure; cranial, extradural (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))

CPT 61783 - (Stereotactic computer-assisted (navigational) procedure; spinal (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))

CPT Code Lookup Tip : All the above listed three codes are add-on codes, thus you would list these with the primary procedure. Earlier, stereotactic navigation was described using 61795 (Stereotactic computer-assisted volumetric [navigational] procedure, intracranial, extracranial, or spinal [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]).

Though, this CPT code was applied to intracranial surgery (eg. tumor resection) by neurosurgeons, to extracranial surgery (eg. sinus surgery) by otolaryngologists, as well asd to spinal surgery (eg. transarticular screw fixation) by spine surgeons. As the physician work involved varied considerably among the mass of applications, the code has been broken out to be more precise to the anatomical region being navigated with stereotactic image-guidance.