Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

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CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

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What makes a good CPC Practice Exam? Questions and Answers with Full Rationale

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2018 CPC Practice Exam Answer Key 150 Questions With Full Rationale (HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT Codes) Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Bone Up on Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Part 2: Strengthen your ICD-10-PCS coding for lumbar spinal fusion procedures. Coding spinal fusion in an outpatient or ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting with CPT® is very different than coding spinal fusion in the inpatient setting with ICD-10-PCS. For example, as illustrated in Figure 1, CPT® divides the spine into three columns: Anterior (anterior two-thirds […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Bone marrow reports pathology

PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO BILL BONE MARROW REPORTS FOR PATHOLOGY.

Can all of these CPT codes be billed if stated on the report?
[*]85097 – Bone marrow; smear interpretation only, with or without[*]differential cell count[*]85060 – Blood smear, peripheral, interpretation by physician with[*]written report[*]88305 – Surgical pathology; gross and microscopic[*]88311 – Decalcification[*]88189 – Flow Cytometry[*]88313/88312/88342/88341- Special/Immuno Stains

Graciela Lopez-Villa, NCICS, CPB
Coding & Reimbursement Specialist | Department of Pathology

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Allogenic Bone Graft CPT needed

I need some help, my doctor is asking for me to add a code for the bone graft on this arthrodesis, and my question is, is there a allogenic bone graft code for this? I looked at 20900 but it sounds like it is for a autograft harvesting which wasn’t done. I already have the bone marrow code so that part is covered but can’t figure out what code to add or if this would be inclusive of the arthrodesis. I’m still pretty new to Podiatry so could really use your advise.

Here is what I coded so far:
28750-LT Dx- M20.22, M96.0, M05.9 Arthrodesis,*great toe;*metatarsophalangeal*joint
20680-LT Dx- T84.84XA, T84.213A Removal of implant; deep (eg, buried wire, pin, screw, metal band, nail, rod or plate)
38232 Dx- M20.22, M96.0, M05.9, T84.84XA, T84.213A Bone marrow*harvesting for*transplantation;*autologous 1

Operation findings when his follow; patient was brought into the operating room and after
sedation intubation on the gurney the patient then was placed on operating table in normal
supine position. left thigh tourniquet was placed which was well-padded the left lower extremity
then was prepped and draped in normal sterile fashion.
Attention was made to the anterior medial proximal tibia where a 1 em incision was made this
incision was deepened with blunt dissection down to the anterior medial cortex of the proximal
tibia before we entered the lightning bone marrow aspiration needle under power intramedullary.
We aspirated 60 cc of bone marrow aspirate concentrate this was handed off to the back table
where it would be center fused to 5 cc concentration. This wound then was irrigated closed with
a 4-0 nylon Xeroform 2 x 2 and a Tegaderm
left lower extremity then was exsanguinated and elevated tourniquet was inflated to 275 mmHg
pressure. Attention was made to the dorsal medial aspect of left first metatarsal phalangeal joint
where there is noted to be prior surgery this old incision was used as our new incision just medial
to the extensor hallucis longus tendon. This incision was straight down to bone with significant
amount of scar tissue all soft tissue reflected off of the first metatarsal head and the base of the
proximal phalanx. There was noted to be a proud screw backing out in the plantar medial aspect
of the first metatarsal head 3 oh headless compression screw that was tenting the skin all soft
tissues were released off of this and this was pulled out in toto will be sent to pathology. There
was a dorsal plate 4 hole that was broken right at the joint 2 screws proximal to screws distally
these were removed along with the broken plate and will be sent the pathology. There was no
signs of any infection or corrosion of any of the implants. There is noted to be nonunion fibrous
of the first MPJ. This time the joint then was prepared for revision arthrodesis by removing any
scar tissue fibrosis within the joint subchondral drilling of the subchondral plate of the first
metatarsal head and the base the proximal phalanx wound was copiously irrigated we then took a
5 mm first metatarsal head wedge allogenic graft from Paragon soaked in bone marrow for over
3 minutes and then put that in our joint for a distraction arthrodesis with good anatomical fit At
this time the first MPJ was placed in a proximally 5 degrees of dorsiflexion and about 5 degrees of
abduction we held this with 2 crossing wires we then using good AO techniques placed a large
first metatarsal phalangeal joint plate from Paragon using 6 3.5 fully threaded screws that were
locking we reviewed this multiple times intraoperatively under fluoroscopy using AP and lateral
making sure R’s platelet was well adhered to the bone with good alignment in all of our screws
were a good length. Once our plate and screws were satisfactory along with our alignment we
removed all temporary wires we then made the bone graft with demineralized bone matrix
approximately 2 cc and bone marrow aspiration 3 cc mixed with 1 cc of amnion right at our
arthrodesis site. Following this we then closed the wound using 3-0 Vicryl for the deep capsule
was then injected the other 2 cc of bone marrow aspiration concentrate and underneath the
capsule and then closed the skin with a 3-0 nylon postoperative injections included 10 cc of half
percent Marcaine plain. This is followed by overnight ointment Adaptic 4 x 4 fluffs Kerlix and an
Ace bandage. Tourniquet was dropped there is good perfusion all digits hemostasis was
controlled.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Bone Marrow aspiration w/Bone graft other than spine

I am seeking guidance on which would be the correct code to use for Bone Marrow aspiration w/Bone graft other than spine. There seems to be a contradiction in the guidelines/instructions regarding 20939 and 38232. Others have stated that 20999 should be used. Has anyone had any experience with these codes. Thank you

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Bone Allograft Coding Additions 2019

The 2019 CPT® codebook introduced three new, add-on codes to report bone allograft: + 20932 Allograft, includes templating, cutting, placement and internal fixation, when performed; osteoarticular, including articular surface and contiguous bone (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) + 20933 … hemicortical intercalary, partial (ie, hemicylindrical) (List separately in addition to code for […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Harvest and implantation of bone marrow aspirate denials

Hello,

Does anyone have any experience with how to bill for bone marrow harvesting for transplantation with Medical Mutual of Ohio? Our podiatrists have been submitting code 38232, however these claims are coming back denied as service not payable for rendering provider specialty. I’ve called MMO and I’ve been advised that neither 38232 or 38220 are payable to this specialty. If anyone knows how to get our providers paid for this service your help would be greatly appreciated.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Dbx bone graft

When a cpt code, for example 21147 lefort 1, 3pc, states with bone graft, does dbx or dbm (demineralized bone matrix) constitute with bone graft. I bill for the professional/surgeon in this scenerio. I think that the dbx/dbm is a product that the facility will bill for (hcpcs) but does not constitute application/harvesting of bone graft. I have looked for information regarding this and haven’t found anything concrete. Any thoughts, thanks!!!!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum