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The following article is written by Stephanie Ellis, RN, CPC, president of Ellis Medical Consulting.
A diskectomy is an excision of an intervertebral disc. These procedures are performed to treat a bulge or displacement/herniation of a disc. The procedure can be performed using a nonautomated technique (which is referred to as manual performed with a needle), an automated technique (using a probe) or using a laser (which vaporizes the disc). The procedure is performed through a small incision (percutaneous).
- Percutaneous lumbar discectomy procedures are coded 62287, which is for a decompression done by any method/technique. That code is billed once (for single or multiple levels), regardless of the number of levels at which discs are excised and regardless of the method used (i.e., manual, automated, laser) to excise the disk. While most spine procedures are not covered by Medicare, the 62287 code is on the Medicare ambulatory surgery center list of approved procedures.
- Use fluoroscopy code 77003-TC with this procedure, when it is billable.
- If non-neurolytic substances are injected during the percutaneous discectomy procedure, use the appropriate code from the 62310/62311 section.
- Bill code C2614 for the probe used in the percutaneous discectomy procedure performed by the automated technique. Not all payors will reimburse for that code.
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The information provided should be utilized for educational purposes only. Please consult with your billing and coding expert. Facilities are ultimately responsible for verifying the reporting policies of individual commercial and MAC/FI carriers prior to claim submissions.