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

Practice Exam

CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

Practice Exam

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

CPC Exam Review Video

Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”

Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at the top right corner of this page

Practice Exam

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

Unicompartment Knee replacement revision

I have a surgeon who did a poly exchange in both the medial and lateral compartments on a patient who had medial and lateral unicompartmental knee replacements. The OP report states:

Procedures performed: Right knee open irrigation and debridement with polytheylene liner exchange of medial and lateral unicompartmental arthroplasties.

Description: A thorough debridement of the entire joint was then undertaken. A quarter-inch osteotome was then used to remove the medial and lateral polyethylenes. 3L of normal saline were then irrigated throughout the joint with pulse irrigation. This was then followed by 1L of saline with Bacitracin, another 3L of sterile saline and finally by 1L of dilute Betadine wash. The dilute Betadine was allowed to sit in the joint for approximately 3 minutes before being irrigated out. Next, new polyethylenes were inserted into the medial and lateral tibial base plates.

Would I bill the knee revision code for 27486: Revision of total knee arthroplasty, with or without allograft; 1 component ? Even though it is technically 2 components?

I would normally bill the 27486 with a 52 modifier for poly exchanges of a conventional total knee, but have never come across a bilateral uni poly exchange.

Thanks for all your help!

Heather

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

BCBS of Mich. Reverses Decision to Not Cover Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injections

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Michigan is delaying their planned non-coverage of hyaluronic acid injections for knees, slated for April 1. BCBS Pulls Up BCBS giving themselves time to study if hyaluronic acid has the true medical benefit that it claims to have for patients with painful arthritic deterioration. Many patients swear by the […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

AX debridement for Pattella clunk status post knee Replacement

What CPT code are you using for this. My doctor wants to bill 29876 Synovectomy, major, 2 or more compartments. Some research has indicated code 29884 for Lysis of adhesions. The synovectomy code indicates resection of Pathologic Synovial disease and not to be used for simply "cleaning up the joint". He is removing scar tissue – not synovium. Interested in what others are using for this.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Coding Single Stage Revision left total knee arthroplasty

I am looking for some advice. One of our providers performed a single stage revision left total knee arthroplasty with polyethylene exchange, irrigation & debridement and implantation of antibiotic impregnated beads. We billed the revision as 27486 (Revision of total knee arthroplasty, 1 component). The insurance is stating that this needs to be billed as 27310 for Arthrotomy for infection and states that the poly exchange is incidental. The 27310 does not seem correct to me since one component was actually removed and replaced with a new one. Any advice?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Patella Knee Support – A New Medical Grade Knee Brace Can Help!

Does your kneecap ever bother you?

Hey, let’s face it, sometimes your kneecap (patella) can dislocate or just kind of have a raw, painful feeling. – Some options you can try at home are ice, rest, and a knee brace. Let’s talk a bit more on these subjects to help you get a good idea of what your options are…

1.) Rest & Ice

Sure, these remedies have helped people in the past and they help you too if you have some pain issues or swelling problems. The problem is that these remedies only go so far…

Rest that Knee! : Rest is great, when you are in the moment, but how many of us can really avoid moving around all the time. – Life just asks to much of us…

Ice : Ice definitely has its place. Its been around almost forever as a method of calming flare ups, and helping to control swelling issues you might have. We have all seen our sports heros use ice on their knees when they sit on the bench after a tough game. – However, the problem is that you can not run around with ice bags hooked up to your knees, so you will more than likely benefit from another idea besides just rest and ice…

2.) A Patella Knee Support

With all of the new innovations today, you can find a patella knee support that does not have to be really bulky, nor does it have to be all the big on your leg either.

A Dislocating Patella

Sometimes people have this problem because their patella (kneecap) just does not “track” correctly. See there is a groove in your femur where your patella is supposed to glide over, called the femoral groove. If the “tracking” of your patella is not adequate, you can dislocate your kneecap! Not only is that painful physically, but it must be painful mentally when you see your patella drifting toward the outside of your leg!
Certain knee braces can help control this kind of outward movement quite well!

A Painful Kneecap

There are a host of other reasons why your patella can bother you. Maybe you banged it, maybe you have another diagnosis that will explain where the pain is coming from…. Either way, a simple knee sleeve can be all it takes to help control the patella so it does not give you soo much pain! Knee sleeves are not for everyone, but they are known for helping to provide some extra support and that might be all you need. – Speak with your brace provider with any questions about braces, and make sure to clear medical advice with your physician prior to using it. This article is great medical information about knee braces, but you must not neglect seeing your doctor regularly.

The Knee Brace Shop

More Medical Coding Articles

knee OCD lesion repair

The patient has an OCD lesion on the femoral condyle. The provider did arthroscopic debridement of it followed by open repair with screws (no grafts). The CPT description of 29885 doesn’t indicate that it would be arthroscopically aided, so I don’t believe I can use it to encompass the whole procedure. However I don’t see an open code. Is there something I’m missing, or do I need to code it as unlisted and compare to 29885?

Thanks!

Susan

Medical Billing and Coding Forum