Procedures Archives

Is there a procedure code that you would know of for leech therapy?

This is a great question, and PTSF staff can’t find a specific code. We recommend root operation extraction, and then skin, or subcutaneous (whichever appropriate).

I have a patient that had an injury a week prior to coming to the hospital. The patient has a SDH and has a craniotomy 6 hours after arriving to our hospital. Please help me understand how to answer the below questions. Did patient have an abdominal, vascular, intrathoracic, or cranial surgery? Cranial Surgery…..Initial surgery > 24 hrs. My confusion is that I’m not clear if the question is asking if the surgery was performed greater than 24 hours from hospital arrival or greater than 24 hours from time of injury?

You will report “1 Yes” if the procedure was done at either the referring facility or your facility within 24 hours of injury.

I know we code ventilation if a patient requires a vent >6 hours postop, but would we also code the intubation procedure?

In ICD-10-PCS, the insertion of an endotracheal tube with subsequent mechanical ventilation requires only one procedure code. Per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ ICD-10-PCS Reference Manual, the insertion of an endotracheal tube associated with the mechanical ventilation procedure is considered a component of the equipment used in performing the procedure and is not …

Continue reading “I know we code ventilation if a patient requires a vent >6 hours postop, but would we also code the intubation procedure?”

What code do you recommend for a pelvic binder?

We recommend 0QS2XZZ (Reposition Right Pelvic Bone, External Approach) and 0QS3XZZ (Reposition Left Pelvic Bone, External Approach). Way back during ICD-10 implementation we submitted this same question to coding clinic, but we never heard back. However, we feel this is consistent with what others are using.