Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region. M51.36 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.36 became effective on October 1, 2020.
Vertebral artery dissection is often associated with trauma and injuries to the head-neck region but can occur spontaneously. ICD-10-CM I77.74 is grouped within Diagnostic Related Group (s) (MS-DRG v38.0): 299 Peripheral vascular disorders with mcc 300 Peripheral vascular disorders with cc
Selecting the correct ICD-10 code for disc disorders can take a little bit of research. There are many options found in the M50 and M51 categories, which are: M51- Thoracic, Thoracolumbar, and Lumbosacral Intervertebral Disc Disorders The fifth character provides detail about the anatomical location within the spinal region.
The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.36 became effective on October 1, 2021. This is the American ICD-10-CM version of M51.36 - other international versions of ICD-10 M51.36 may differ. cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders ( M50.-)
M51. 36 Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region - ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes.
26: Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region.
Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbar region M51. 86 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M51. 86 became effective on October 1, 2021.
M51. 26 Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region - ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes.
ICD-10 Code for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region- M51. 16- Codify by AAPC.
M51. 16 Intervertebral disc disorders w radiculopathy, lumbar region - ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes.
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (HNP)
M51. 26 - Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region. ICD-10-CM.
Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracolumbar region M51. 25 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M51. 25 became effective on October 1, 2021.
The ICD10 code for the diagnosis "Spinal stenosis, lumbar region" is "M48. 06". M48. 06 is NOT a 'valid' or 'billable' ICD10 code.
ICD-10-CM Code for Myalgia M79. 1.
"A bulging disc is like letting air out of a car tire. The disc sags and looks like it is bulging outward. With a herniated disc, the outer covering of the disc has a hole or tear. This causes the nucleus pulposus (jelly-like center of the disc) to leak into the spinal canal."
ICD-10 Code for Spondylolisthesis, lumbar region- M43. 16- Codify by AAPC.
Only use the fourth character “9” for unspecified disc disorders if the documentation does not indicate anything more than the presence of a disc problem. But beware, payors are expected to ask for clarification if unspecified or “NOS” codes are used.
9 = unspecified disc disorder. The fifth character provides detail about the anatomical location within the spinal region. A basic knowledge of spinal anatomy should make fifth-character selection easy, but only if it is documented properly. This includes transitionary regions.
These spinal disc codes appear to be a bit complex, but with some study and evaluation, the logic used to create them becomes clear. The provider can use the codes to guide proper documentation and the coder then can select the right codes with confidence.
It is already included in the code. Likewise, don’t code sciatica (M54.3-) if you code for lumbar disc with radiculopathy. It would be redundant. On a side note, lumbar radiculopathy (M54.16) might be used if pain is not yet known to be due a disc, but it radiates from the lumbar spine.
The codes for the anterior spinal fusion are 0SG00AJ (L4-L5) and 0SG30AJ (L5-S1) . Two codes are also assigned for the posterior spinal fusion, 0SG0071 (L4-L5) and 0SG3071 (L5-S1) . Codes 0SB20ZZ and 0SB40ZZ are also assigned for the discectomy performed at two different levels of the spine. Lastly, code 0QB20ZZ is assigned for the harvesting of the right iliac crest bone graft.
The implementation of ICD-10-PCS has enhanced the skills of coding professionals as it contains many unique features that provide an opportunity to accurately reflect the complexity of the procedures being performed. The assignment of ICD-9-CM procedure codes for spinal fusions often challenged coding professionals, and this has not changed with the transition to ICD-10-PCS. As with the coding of other complex surgical procedures, coding professionals struggle with identifying which portion of the spinal fusion procedure to code or not to code.
The code for this procedure is 0QB20ZZ, with the body part character (fourth character) being 2 for right pelvic bone. The iliac crest does not have its own distinct body part value in ICD-10-PCS, with the ICD-10-PCS Body Part Key indicating that the pelvic bone is the closest proximal branch.
If an interbody fusion device is used (alone or containing other material like bone graft), the procedure is coded with the device value Interbody Fusion Device (A)
Qualifier: The qualifier character identifies the column of the spine being fused (anterior or posterior) and if the surgical approach is from the front or back of the body (see Figure 1 below).
As with Examples #1 and #2, the segmental instrumentation is included in the spinal fusion and is not coded separately. The lumbar decompression L4-L5 and L5-S1 bilateral foraminotomies and L3 decompression laminectomy are also considered to be integral to the spinal fusion and not coded separately.
Decompression is the general term to describe removal of the spinal disk, bone, or tissue causing pressure and pain. Often, this is the only procedure performed. Examples include: laminectomy to decompress spinal canal and/or nerve roots (e.g., 63001-63017, 63045-+63048), discectomy to decompress spinal canal and/or nerve roots (e.g., 63020-+63035, 63040-+63044, 63055-+63057), corpectomy (e.g., 63081-+63091), fracture repair (e.g., 22325-+22328), etc.#N#CPT® designates the decompression codes as being per “vertebral segment” or per “interspace.” Decompression occurs at the interspace for discectomy codes (e.g., right L4-L5 interspace). Discectomy is a single, standalone code, such as 63030 Laminotomy (hemilaminectomy), with decompression of nerve root (s), including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc; 1 interspace, lumbar.#N#But decompression of the spinal canal can be coded per vertebral segment (63001-63017), or per level of foraminotomy (e.g., decompression of the L4 exiting nerve root via partial laminectomy at L4 and partial laminectomy at L5, with foraminotomy at L4-L5, is reported using one code: 63047 Laminectomy, facetectomy and foraminotomy (unilateral or bilateral with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina and/or nerve root [s], [eg, spinal or lateral recess stenosis]), single vertebral segment; lumbar).#N#Discern whether the approach was posterior or anterior to choose the correct code. Table A illustrates commonly used, standalone decompression codes for spine surgery.#N#Table A: Standalone decompression codes for spine surgery
“It seems like coding spine cases is as complicated as doing the surgery,” said a spine surgeon at his first coding training session with me.#N#Spine procedure coding can make even the most confident coder squirm. But spine procedure coding doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it’s quite formulaic. Follow these five principles and spine procedure coding will go from scary to simple.
Because a fusion was performed, you must include a bone graft code. As with other graft codes in CPT®, the spinal bone graft codes are reported for harvesting the bone graft. The work of placing the bone graft is included in the arthrodesis/fusion codes. All spinal bone graft codes are add-on codes.
Warning: As with bone graft codes, instrumentation codes are add-on codes, and are never reported with modifier 62. Some payers (including Medicare) will incorrectly reimburse the instrumentation and some bone graft codes when billed with modifier 62; however, CPT® guidelines prohibit reporting the instrumentation and bone graft codes with modifier 62.
The vertebral discs (also called intervertebral disc s or disks) are the shock absorbers of the spine. They are located between each vertebral body and prevent bone-on-bone contact. Intervertebral discs are prone to injury and disease. Some of the most common disc diseases are shown here and include disc degeneration, bulging, and thinning. Because of their proximity to the spinal cord and nerve roots as they exit the spine, disc disorders can cause extreme pain.
These bony protrusions, called facets or articular processes, allow each vertebral segment to fit in a puzzle-like fashion with the segments above and below it. They also prevent the individual bones of the spine from twisting out of place.
In a discussion about spinal anatomy, one of my coworkers once said, “It’s not so much that the spinal column is three-dimensional, it’s more five-dimensional.” I think that is an apt description of the vertebral segments that stack one on top of the other to compose the spinal column. It is critical for coders to have a thorough understanding of spinal anatomy when assigning ICD-10-PCS and CPT codes to spinal fusion procedures. In this blog post, we will walk through a brief primer on spinal anatomy.