One of our General Surgeons did a Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia with a bilateral fasciocutaneous flap repair, also done laparoscopically. The open code for the fasciocutaneous flap is 15734, but no laparoscopic code exists for this procedure. We assigned the Unlisted Laparoscopy procedure, abdomen, peritoneum and omentum to that portion of the procedure. She responded with this statement: "The 15734 code is neither an open nor laparoscopic code. It is not in the digestive system codes so it is non-discriminatory. I am told it can be used with lap hernia codes and we have successfully done it on [other case]."

She did not state where she was told this, but it has always been my understanding that if a procedure is not specifically labeled as laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, endoscopic or arthroscopic, then it is considered an Open procedure. Unfortunately, it seems that this understanding is so wide-spread that I haven’t been able to find anything in writing to use in explaining this to her. Even the layman’s terms descriptions don’t actually say anything about making an incision down to the tissues being used to form the flaps.

Does anyone know of any resources I can use to explain this to her?

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