DRAFT LCD Reference Article Billing and Coding Article

Billing and Coding: Cervical Fusion

DA59674

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Contractor Information

Contractor Name	Contract Type	Contract Number	Jurisdiction	States
First Coast Service Options, Inc.	A and B MAC	09101 - MAC A	J - N	Florida
First Coast Service Options, Inc.	A and B MAC	09102 - MAC B	J - N	Florida
First Coast Service Options, Inc.	A and B MAC	09201 - MAC A	J - N	Puerto Rico Virgin Islands
First Coast Service Options, Inc.	A and B MAC	09202 - MAC B	J - N	Puerto Rico
First Coast Service Options, Inc.	A and B MAC	09302 - MAC B	J - N	Virgin Islands

Draft Article Information

General Information

Source Article ID
A59674

Draft Article ID
DA59674

Draft Article Title
Billing and Coding: Cervical Fusion

Article Type
Billing and Coding

Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

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CMS National Coverage Policy

Internet-Only Manuals (IOMs)

CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual,
- Chapter 23, Section 20.9 National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)

National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI):

Medicare NCCI Policy Manual,
- Chapter 1, General Correct Coding Policies for Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual

Social Security Act (Title XVIII) Standard References:

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1833(e) states that no payment shall be made to any provider of services or other person under this part unless there has been furnished such information as may be necessary in order to determine the amounts due such provider or other person under this part for the period with respect to which the amounts are being paid or for any prior period.

Article Guidance

Article Text

This Billing and Coding Article provides billing and coding guidance for Proposed Local Coverage Determination (LCD) DL39799 Cervical Fusion. Please refer to the LCD for reasonable and necessary requirements.

Coding Guidance

This article applies only to cervical fusion and related procedures and does not apply to other joint procedures (such as facet, sacroiliitis, epidural or other spinal procedures).

Providers should refer to the applicable AMA CPT Manual to assist with proper reporting of these services.

General Guidelines for Claims submitted to Part A or Part B MAC:

Procedure codes may be subject to National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits or OPPS packaging edits. Refer to NCCI and OPPS requirements prior to billing Medicare. For services requiring a referring/ordering physician, the name and NPI of the referring/ordering physician must be reported on the claim. A claim submitted without a valid ICD-10-CM diagnosis code will be returned to the provider as an incomplete claim under Section 1833(e) of the Social Security Act. The diagnosis code(s) must best describe the patient's condition for which the service was performed. For diagnostic tests, report the result of the test if known; otherwise, the symptoms prompting the performance of the test should be reported.

Notice: It is not appropriate to bill Medicare for services that are not covered (as described by the entire LCD) as if they are covered. When billing for non-covered services, use the appropriate modifier.

Documentation Requirements

All documentation must be maintained in the patient's medical record and made available to the contractor upon request.
Every page of the record must be legible and include appropriate patient identification information (e.g., complete name, dates of service[s]). The documentation must include the legible signature of the physician or non-physician practitioner responsible for and providing the care to the patient.
The submitted medical record must support the use of the selected ICD-10-CM code(s). The submitted CPT/HCPCS code must describe the service performed.
The patient’s medical record should include, but is not limited to:

- The assessment of the patient by the performing provider as it relates to the complaint of the patient for that visit.
- Relevant medical history.
- Results of pertinent tests/procedures.
- Signed and dated office visit record/operative report. (Please note that all services ordered or rendered to Medicare beneficiaries must be signed.)
  - The operative note should include the procedure performed and any associated/additional procedures performed at the same time.
- Documentation to support the medical necessity of the procedure(s).

Use of Biologicals

There are currently no FDA approved biologicals to be injected into the joint at the time of surgery. The inclusion of biological and/or other non-FDA approved substances in the injectant will result in denial of the entire claim based on Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 16, Section 180. Amniotic and placenta derived injectants, amino acids, vitamins, and platelet rich plasma fall in this category.

Response To Comments

Number	Comment	Response
1

Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Code	Description
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Revenue Codes

Code	Description
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CPT/HCPCS Codes

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CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

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Group 1

(4 Codes)

Group 1 Paragraph

N/A

Group 1 Codes

Code	Description
GA	WAIVER OF LIABILITY STATEMENT ISSUED AS REQUIRED BY PAYER POLICY, INDIVIDUAL CASE
GX	NOTICE OF LIABILITY ISSUED, VOLUNTARY UNDER PAYER POLICY
GY	ITEM OR SERVICE STATUTORILY EXCLUDED, DOES NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF ANY MEDICARE BENEFIT OR, FOR NON-MEDICARE INSURERS, IS NOT A CONTRACT BENEFIT
GZ	ITEM OR SERVICE EXPECTED TO BE DENIED AS NOT REASONABLE AND NECESSARY

ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

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Group 1

(22 Codes)

Group 1 Paragraph

It is the provider’s responsibility to select codes carried out to the highest level of specificity and selected from the ICD-10-CM code book appropriate to the year in which the service is rendered for the claim(s) submitted.

The following ICD-10-CM codes support medical necessity and provide coverage for CPT codes: 22548, 22551, 22552, 22554, 22585, 22590, 22595, 22600, 22614, 22800, 22802, 22808, 22810, and 22812.

Group 1 Codes

Code	Description
M46.31	Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), occipito-atlanto-axial region
M46.32	Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical region
M46.33	Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervicothoracic region
M48.01	Spinal stenosis, occipito-atlanto-axial region
M48.02	Spinal stenosis, cervical region
M48.03	Spinal stenosis, cervicothoracic region
M50.01	Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, high cervical region
M50.021	Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy
M50.022	Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with myelopathy
M50.023	Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with myelopathy
M50.03	Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, cervicothoracic region
M50.11	Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, high cervical region
M50.121	Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with radiculopathy
M50.122	Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with radiculopathy
M50.123	Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with radiculopathy
M50.13	Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region
M53.2X1	Spinal instabilities, occipito-atlanto-axial region
M53.2X2	Spinal instabilities, cervical region
M53.2X3	Spinal instabilities, cervicothoracic region
M54.11	Radiculopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region
M54.12	Radiculopathy, cervical region
M54.13	Radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region

ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

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Group 1

(1 Code)

Group 1 Paragraph

All those not listed under the “ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity” section of this article.

Group 1 Codes

Code	Description
XX000	Not Applicable

ICD-10-PCS Codes

N/A

Additional ICD-10 Information

N/A

Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the article does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.

Code	Description
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Revenue Codes

Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.

Code	Description
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Other Coding Information

N/A

Coding Table Information

Excluded CPT/HCPCS Codes - Table Format

Code	Descriptor Generic Name	Descriptor Brand Name	Exclusion Effective Date	Exclusion End Date	Reason for Exclusion
			N/A	N/A

Non-Excluded CPT/HCPCS Ended Codes - Table Format

Code	Descriptor Generic Name	Descriptor Brand Name	Exclusion Effective Date	Exclusion End Date	Reason for Exclusion

Revision History Information

N/A

Associated Documents

Related Local Coverage Documents
Articles
A59674 - Billing and Coding: Cervical Fusion
LCDs
DL39799 - Cervical Fusion

Updated On	Archived Date	Status
02/09/2024	N/A	N/A	You are here

Keywords

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Billing and Coding: Cervical Fusion

Document Note

Note History

Contractor Information

Draft Article Information

General Information

CMS National Coverage Policy

Article Guidance

Response To Comments

Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Please accept the License to see the codes.

Revenue Codes

Please accept the License to see the codes.

CPT/HCPCS Codes

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CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

Group 1

ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Group 1

Additional ICD-10 Information

Bill Type Codes

Please accept the License to see the codes.

Revenue Codes

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Other Coding Information

Group 1

Coding Table Information

Revision History Information

Associated Documents

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