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Tamara Wagner, BS, CPC, is coding manager for National Medical Billing Services.
Q: What is the most appropriate way to code for ligation of an intersphincteric fistula as in a LIFT procedure?
Tamara Wagner: The LIFT procedure (ligation of intersphincteric fistula) would be assigned CPT code 46275, "Surgical treatment of anal fistula (fistulectomy/fistulotomy); intersphincteric."
This code was revised effective Jan. 1, 2010, replacing the term "submuscular" with "intersphincteric." There is no reference to the technique other than surgical treatment of the fistula.
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