Cpt Inguinal Hernia Repair With Mesh
For more complicated laparoscopic hernia repair procedures that may include separation of components report code 49659 unlisted laparoscopy procedure hernioplasty herniorrhaphy herniotomy.
Cpt inguinal hernia repair with mesh. Do not append a modifier 50 to a right initial inguinal hernia and a recurrent left inguinal hernia both repaired via the same approach. The surgeon uses images from the laparoscope as a guide to repair the hernia with mesh. If hernia repair is unilateral use modifier rt or lt to indicate the site. Inguinal hernia repair is often an outpatient procedure.
Cpt lists only three codes for laparoscopic hernia repair including two codes for inguinal hernia repair 49650 any initial repair and 49561 all recurrent repairs and a single unlisted procedure code 49659 to cover laparoscopic repairs of all other hernia types regardless of patient age or initial recurrent reducible strangulated status. Non tension means just that. The main reason surgeons use hernia mesh is to reduce the risk of recurrence. Non tension or mesh repair.
For all other hernia repairs such as epigastric umbilical etc open or laparoscopic add on code 49568 cannot be billed for placing the mesh during the repair by the provider. Body part on their given code tables specific body part values are available for diaphragm abdominal wall inguinal region femoral region and other lower. Instead of pulling the tissue around the hernia together a piece of mesh is positioned to reinforce the area and fixed in place with sutures and or staples. Experts think the procedure may damage certain nerves.
Note that a code using root operation u supplement stands by itself as a hernia repair procedure and no additional code is required or assigned to capture the repair or use of mesh. Code 15734 is an open procedure. Hernia mesh is used in approximately 90 percent of hernia surgeries. Hernia mesh is a surgical implant that provides additional support to the damaged tissue.
For hernia repair procedures that are hybrid laparoscopic and open repairs report the appropriate code for open. The mesh is made of a flexible material that stays in the abdomen and encourages new tissue to grow into it. This means you can go home the same day as the surgery. If either an incisional or ventral hernia repair is done at the time of another abdominal procedure through the same incision do not separately report the hernia repair.
Placement of mesh can only be billed together with incisional and ventral hernia repair per medicare s ncci edits manual.