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The American Medical Association implemented a new Category III CPT code to specifically describe sacroiliac joint arthrodesis performed with minimally invasive or percutaneous approaches, which went into effect July 1, according to a special report from the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.
The new Code 0334T is described, "Sacroiliac joint stabilization for arthrodesis, percutaneous or minimally invasive (indirect visualization), includes obtaining and applying autograft or allograft (structural or morselized), when performed, includes image guidance when performed (e.g., CT or fluoroscopic). To report bilateral procedure use -50."
The report cautions not to unbundle procedures or report separately. The code does not have RVUs and doesn't have Medicare Physician Fee Schedule established national payment values.
"It's important that payers understand the professional resources involved in MIS/percutaneous SIJ fusion," said Morgan Lorio, MD, chair of the ISASS Coding & Reimbursement Task Force, in the report. "As payers calculate payment determination for this procedure, surgical practices must be willing to assist them by providing examples of comparable, established services that they may use as a payment reference."
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