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Tip: Correctly code clavicle procedures (7/22)

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, July 22, 2008

The clavicle (the collar bone) runs from the scapula or shoulder blade to the sternum.

A claviculectomy procedure may be referred to as the Mumford procedure. Report the arthroscopic procedure for a partial distal claviculectomy with code 29824. Use code 23120 for the open partial distal claviculectomy procedure.

If the surgeon performs a more extensive procedure report the open total claviculectomy procedure with code 23125.

The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeon guidelines state that a surgeon should document that he or she removed at least 1 cm of the distal clavicle in the op report to ensure proper documentation of these procedures.

If a surgeon removes only bone spurs from the clavicle area, it is not separately billable.

Physicians commonly perform claviculectomy procedures for arthritic conditions (usually found in sections 715–716 of the 2008 ICD-9 Manual) and for impingement (code 726.2).


This tip is brought to you by Ellis Medical Consulting, Inc.

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