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Simple Mastectomy and removal if implants

New to Mastectomy ..

Do I have the right codes: 19303-50

or am I missing something??

PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS:
Left breast carcinoma, upper outer quadrant with bilateral subglandular
implants.

POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS:
Left breast carcinoma, upper outer quadrant with bilateral subglandular
implants.

PROCEDURE:
1. Right simple mastectomy and removal of implant.
2. Left simple mastectomy with removal of implant and removal of axillary tail.
This patient had prior lymph node dissection. There was very little to no
tissue in the axilla as this had been stripped in the prior axillary node
dissection.

ASSISTANT:
xxxxxx

ANESTHESIA:
General.

ANESTHESIOLOGIST:
Dr. English.

ESTIMATED BLOOD LOSS:
Minimal.

PROCEDURE IN DETAIL:
The patient was placed on the operating table in supine position. After
administering general anesthesia, the patient’s upper chest, arms, and down to
the elbow were prepped along with the neck, prepped and draped in usual
fashion. Time-out was performed. Attention was turned to the right side,
which was benign. The oblique elliptical incision was made, sharply carried
down to subcutaneous tissue with the cautery. Then, utilizing a Gorney
scissors, skin flaps were created appropriate thickness, approximately 8-7 inch
and slightly less superiorly to the clavicle, medially to the sternum, inferiorly to the rectus, laterally to the latissimus dorsi. The breast tissue
was reflected from medial to lateral along with the implant, which was
subglandular, muscle was left intact. After this was removed, the area was
thoroughly irrigated, thorough hemostasis obtained and then a Blake drain was
placed and brought out to the inferior mammary line, sutured in position. The
skin was then closed with staples. Attention was then turned to the left
breast. Again, oblique incision was made. The patient had a prior lumpectomy
with an incision at the inferior mammary line. An oblique incision was marked.
The skin incision made and utilizing a Gorney scissors, skin flaps were
created of appropriate areas. The clavicle superiorly, latissimus dorsi and
laterally, rectus inferiorly and the sternal border medially. Then, there was
breast tissue along with the implant, was reflected from medial to lateral. It
should be noted the axillary tail was removed with the breast. There was very
little axillary tissue noted. The nerves were easily visible along with the
axillary vein. There appeared to be no lymphatic tissue present. There were
no positive palpable issues or actually very little fat in that area. Whatever
was there was removed with the axillary tail. The wound was then thoroughly
irrigated. Hemostasis obtained. A Blake drain was placed, brought out
inferiorly and sutured in position. After obtaining thorough hemostasis and
irrigation, the skin was closed with staples. Firm pressure dressings
including a breast binder were applied. Final sponge, needle, and instrument
count were correct. Sterile dressing was placed. The patient was transferred
to recovery in satisfactory condition.

Help please

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Pain Neurostimulators – Can you bill implants separate on commercial cases?

Alright alright alright,

So far we have only had Medicare neurostimlator cases (63650×2, 63685) and recently we’ve been asked if we could do a Cigna. Now here’s my issue, are we able to bill implants separately with this commercial policy using the various HCPCS codes?

The reason for my confusion is because under the CPT notes this is listed:

Includes The following are components of a neurostimulator system:
Includes Collection of contacts of which four or more provide the electrical stimulation in the epidural space
Includes Complex and simple neurostimulators
Includes Contacts on a catheter-type lead (array)
Includes Extension
Includes External controller
Includes Implanted neurostimulator

However, I’ve seen an old thread where it was mentioned that they do bill separately and on the company’s website they list out the implant codes that can be billed to commercial policies. But how? Since it specifically states they are included. Am I missing something or misunderstanding?

Any help is appreciated! :)

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Correction of Deformed Arthritic IPJs of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th toes with joint implants

Can someone confirm how to code this: Correction of Deformed Arthritic IPJs of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th toes with joint implants.

Body says: Incision was made over the IP and MPJ of 4th right foot. Sharp blunt dissection made down to EDL where a Tendon Lengthening was made to expose the PIPj. Attention directed to the arthritic PP head where an osteotomy was made. Other arthritic bone was removed. The head was further Ostectomized. A drill hole was made into the central shaft to accept the implant in the proximal and distal portion. The same procedure was repeated the the 2nd and 3rd right.

Thank you.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Risks of Breast Implants by Medical Malpractice

According to a recently released report by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, about 355,671 women had undergone cosmetic breast surgery in 2008only. Breast surgery is now the most common type of cosmetic surgery performed in the USA with the result of success depending on the medical practice of the surgeon.

The number one reason women chose to have breast implants is to feel better about themselves and boost their self-image. Reconstruction of breast material lost due to mastectomy or genetic deformities also falls into this category. Regardless of the personal basis for a breast implant, all breast implant surgeries are considered cosmetic.

 

Women most likely to choose breast implants have certain characteristics: a slender build; under the height of 5’4″; and below the age of 40 (86%).

 

The four influential purposes for breast implants are:

· Primary reconstruction to replace breast tissue destroyed by cancer, trauma or severe breast abnormality
· Revision-reconstruction to correct or improve a prior reconstruction surgery
· Primary augmentation to enlarge the breast size
· Revision-augmentation to correct or improve a prior augmentation surgery

 

Of the three types of breast implants currently on the market, saline and silicone implants are most frequently chosen, while breast implants of alternate material are rarely used. There are options where the incision for the breast implants is located. A transaxillary incision is under the arm, a periareolar incision is around the nipple and an inframammary incision is along the fold underneath the breast. The transaxillary and inframammary incisions are less concealed than the periareolar, but considered to have a higher likelihood of successful breast feeding. In addition, breast implants can be placed either on top of the muscle or underneath.

 

Breast implants have a history dating back to 1895, albeit not always with desirable results. Unfortunately, that trend continues today. There are dangers associated with breast implants. A list of the common risks includes:

– Infection
– Wound healing delay
– Hematoma
– Bleeding
– Excessive scarring
– Capsular contracture
– Calcium deposits
– Asymmetry
– Visible wrinkling
– Breast tissue thinning
– Disruption of the natural flat surface between the breasts
– Neuroma
– Nipple sensation changes
– Breast sensation changes
– Deflation
– Rupture
– Leakage
– Swelling
– Burning
– Tenderness
– Increased difficulty in detecting breast cancer
– Additional surgeries to replace or remove breast implants
– Anesthesia reaction

 

Some of the above perils may be the result of the plastic surgeon inserting too large an implant into the breast capsule, damaging the skin’s outer layers or his or her inexperience. Breast implant medical errors can leave a women suffering years of pain, emotional trauma and repeated surgeries to attempt to reverse the medical error. Some women never recover a “normal” appearance and are left with horrendous scarring.

 

If you have concerns about your breast implant surgery, it is advisable to seek an experienced medical malpractice attorney’s opinion as soon as possible.

 

Attorney Richard Hastings, for the past two and one half decades, has been helping injured clients and families collect millions of dollars in losses ranging from motor vehicle accidents to wrongful death, to medical malpractice. He is the founder of Selectcounsel, LLC, a free service that helps you find one of the best lawyers in your area and is the author of the books “How To Find A Great Lawyer” and “Understanding And Improving The Value Of Your Personal Injury Case.”

Orbital rim implants s/p cancer resection

The doctor put in two orbital implants and attached them to previously placed plates in patient’s eye orbit. The doctor wants to bill 67550 twice, since he put in two implants. However, I do not believe that this is quite correct since they were both done on the same eye and no separate incision was made. Any suggestions????

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

DME codes to bill insurance for ortho implants

Does anyone purchase implants and sells to the surgeon? I understand that ASC’s consider the actual hardware as a "bundled" code so many surgeons are not performing ortho implants in an ASC setting. The guy that approached me about it asked how to get paid so I’m reaching out to anyone that may have some insight on this.

I understand the invoice comes in for the hardware and there is a standard % increase and this leaves the MD/Surgeon out so that they can continue to receive their full payment. He does have a DME NPI so it should work, I’m just curious about codes, prices etc or general knowledge of this.

Thanks so much.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum