THE CODING EDGE® ARCHIVES

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Procedure Practice 05/15/99 - Feature Article 05/15/99
   

Procedure Practice 05/15/99:
Coding Recommendations

  
Listed below are the ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes as well as the CPT-4 procedure codes that we think properly classify the treatment described. Please note that modifiers, used only for physician billing purposes, have not been assigned to the CPT-4 codes. If you disagree with our suggestions or have other comments, please send an e-mail to codingedge@lagunamedsys.com.
   

Suggested Codes and Rationale
   

ICD-9-Diagnosis Codes

The patient had a DuPuytren’s contracture of her right hand. In the Index to Diseases, you will find entries for both "Contraction, Dupuytren’s" and "Dupuytren’s contraction." The index refers us to 728.6, which, as the code description in the Tabular List confirms, is the correct diagnosis code for this case: Contracture of palmar fascia.
  

ICD-9-CM Procedure Codes

The patient underwent palmar fasciectomy with release of the 4th and 5th digits. In the Index to Procedures the code 82.35 is listed for "Fasciectomy, palmar (release of Dupuytren’s contracture)." The description in the Tabular List reads Other fasciectomy of hand; release of Dupuytren’s contracture.
  

CPT-4 Procedure Codes

Palmar fasciectomy codes fall in the range of 26121, 26123, and 26125. Read the code descriptions carefully to determine which code is appropriate. The correct CPT codes are 26123 and 26125. 26123, Fasciectomy, partial palmar with release of single digit including proximal interphalangeal joint, with or without Z-plasty, other local tissue rearrangement, or skin grafting (includes obtaining graft), correctly identifies fasciectomy with a single digit release, and 26125, Fasciectomy, partial palmar with release of each additional digit (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure), is an add-on code required to identify the release of each additional digit.

   

Procedure Practice 05/15/99 - Feature Article 05/15/99

Bibliography - References:
1999 Coders Desk Reference, Medicode, Salt Lake City, UT
Current Procedural Terminology 1999 Professional Edition, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL
St. Anthony’s Illustrated ICD-9-CM Code Book, St. Anthony Publishing, Reston, VA		 Notice: This part of our web site was prepared to assist in understanding and maintaining good coding skills. For proper use of this feature, reference must be made to official coding guidelines when necessary. The information here presented is only to be used as a supplement to those guidelines. Laguna Medical Systems, Inc., makes no representations or guarantees as to amounts that will be paid by Medicare or other third party payers.

 

Please be aware that the Coding Edge® Archive pages are NOT retroactively updated
to reflect possible coding rules and regulation changes made after the publishing date.