There are a few updates in coding for shoulder arthroplasty for 2013, according to a report in AAOS Now.

At the 10th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago on June 16, Stephanie Ellis, RN, CPC, with Ellis Medical Consulting, discussed 15 current procedure terminology coding issues for orthopedic and spine ambulatory surgery center facilities.

The guidelines that refer to physician and coding staff associated with CPT code 29880 and 29881 changed when chondroplasty is performed with a meniscectomy, meaning the change for 2012 is with the meniscectomy CPT codes — not with the chondroplasty CPT codes, according to an AAOS Now report.

This year, there were two new codes on the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture, according to an AAOS Now report.

Changes with the 2012 CPT Manual have made an impact on coding for arthroscopic procedures, according to a report in AAOS Now.

The following article is written by Stephanie Ellis, RN, CPC, president of Ellis Medical Consulting.

CPT changes to spine procedure coding

Codes 22520, 22521 and 22522: These CPT codes were changed from a percutaneous vertebroplasty, 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; thoracic or lumbar and add-on code for an additional level, to now include a bone biopsy, if one is performed as part of the percutaneous vertebroplasty procedure.

The American Medical Association has released the 2012 CPT coding changes for interventional pain management, according to an American Society of International Pain Physicians news release.

Using the combined CPT and ICD-9-CM algorithm to identify cervical spine surgery is the most specific way to report the procedure and can impact outcome and cost, according to a report published in Spine.

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Teri A. Gatchel, MBA, CPC, a consultant with KarenZupko & Associates who is an expert in coding for orthopedic surgery practices,dsicusses four coding challenges and how they can be handled.