{"id":16212,"date":"2023-01-17T10:58:33","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T10:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/?p=16212"},"modified":"2025-04-18T07:34:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T07:34:18","slug":"arthroscopy-coding-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/arthroscopy-coding-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Arthroscopy Coding Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Basics of Arthroscopy Coding Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To share arthroscopy coding guidelines, we referred National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) policy manual. CMS developed the NCCI manual to promote national correct coding of Medicare Part B claims. The Medicare NCCI promotes correct coding methodologies and controls improper coding leading to improper payment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before going into detail about arthroscopy coding guidelines, let\u2019s define arthroscopy. Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows the direct visualization of the interior joint space. In addition to providing visualization, arthroscopy enables the process of joint cleansing through the use of lavage or irrigation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Lavage alone may involve either large or small-volume saline irrigation of the knee by arthroscopy. Arthroscopy also permits the removal of any loose bodies from the interior joint space, a procedure termed debridement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"tel:888-357-3226\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18988\" src=\"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Legacy-AR.jpg\" alt=\"Legacy AR - MBC\" width=\"700\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Arthroscopy Coding Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surgical arthroscopy includes diagnostic arthroscopy which is not separately reportable. If a diagnostic arthroscopy leads to a surgical arthroscopy at the same patient encounter, only the surgical arthroscopy may be reported.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If arthroscopy is performed as a \u2018scout\u2019 procedure to assess the surgical field or extent of disease, it is not separately reportable. If the findings of a diagnostic arthroscopy lead to the decision to perform an open procedure, the diagnostic arthroscopy may be separately reportable. While billing Medicare, modifier -58 may be reported to indicate that the diagnostic arthroscopy and non-arthroscopic therapeutic procedures were staged or planned procedures. The medical record must indicate the medical necessity for the diagnostic arthroscopy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If an arthroscopic procedure is converted to an open procedure, only the open procedure may be reported. Neither a surgical arthroscopy nor a diagnostic arthroscopy code shall be reported with the open procedure code when a surgical arthroscopic procedure is converted to an open procedure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the exception of the knee and shoulder, arthroscopic debridement shall not be reported separately with a surgical arthroscopy procedure when performed on the same joint at the same patient encounter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CPT codes 29874<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; for removal of the loose body or foreign body (e.g., osteochondritis dissecans fragmentation, chondral fragmentation) and <strong>29877<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; for debridement\/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty)) shall not be reported with other knee arthroscopy codes (<strong>29866-29889<\/strong>).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With 2 exceptions, <strong>HCPCS code G0289<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; for removal of loose body, foreign body, debridement\/shaving of articular cartilage at the time of another surgical knee arthroscopy in a different compartment of the same knee) may be reported with other knee arthroscopy codes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since <strong>CPT codes 29880<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial AND lateral, including any meniscal shaving) including debridement\/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) same or separate compartment(s), when performed) and <strong>29881<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving) including debridement\/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) same or separate compartment(s), when performed) include debridement\/shaving of articular cartilage of any compartment, <strong>HCPCS code G0289<\/strong> may be reported with <strong>CPT codes 29880 or 29881<\/strong> only if reported for removal of a loose body or foreign body from a different compartment of the same knee.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>HCPCS code G0289<\/strong> shall not be reported for removal of a loose body or foreign body or debridement\/shaving of articular cartilage from the same compartment as another knee arthroscopic procedure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shoulder arthroscopy procedures include limited debridement (e.g., <strong>CPT code 29822<\/strong>) even if the limited debridement is performed in a different area of the same shoulder than the other procedure. With 3 exceptions, shoulder arthroscopy procedures include extensive debridement (e.g., <strong>CPT code 29823<\/strong>) even if the extensive debridement is performed in a different area of the same shoulder than the other procedure. <strong>CPT codes 29824<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; distal claviculectomy including distal articular surface (Mumford procedure)), <strong>29827<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; rotator cuff repair), and <strong>29828<\/strong> (Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; biceps tenodesis) may be reported separately with <strong>CPT code 29823<\/strong> if the extensive debridement is performed in a different area of the same shoulder.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee may be reported with <strong>CPT codes 29875<\/strong> (Limited synovectomy, \u2018separate procedure\u2019) or <strong>29876<\/strong> (Major synovectomy of two or three compartments). A synovectomy to \u2018clean up\u2019 a joint on which another more extensive procedure is performed is not separately reportable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>CPT code 29875<\/strong> shall not be reported with another arthroscopic knee procedure on the ipsilateral knee. CPT code <strong>29876<\/strong> may be reported for a medically reasonable and necessary synovectomy with another arthroscopic knee procedure on the ipsilateral knee if the synovectomy is performed in 2 compartments on which another arthroscopic procedure is not performed. For example, <strong>CPT code 29876<\/strong> shall not be reported for a major synovectomy with <strong>CPT code 29880<\/strong> (Knee arthroscopy, medial and lateral meniscectomy) on the ipsilateral knee, since knee arthroscopic procedures other than synovectomy are performed in 2 of the 3 knee compartments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Separately Reporting Extensive Shoulder Debridement (CPT code 29823)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extensive shoulder debridement (<strong>CPT code 29823<\/strong>) may be reported separately when the debridement performed exceeds the usual debridement included in the primary procedure. Extensive shoulder debridement (<strong>CPT code 29823<\/strong>) involves the removal of damaged or diseased tissue from the shoulder joint using arthroscopic techniques. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This procedure is typically performed to address conditions such as rotator cuff tears, labral tears, or osteoarthritis that require significant tissue removal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When reporting extensive shoulder debridement (<strong>CPT code 29823<\/strong>), it is important to consider the specific circumstances of the procedure. In some cases, this code can be reported separately, in addition to other primary procedures performed on the shoulder. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it&#8217;s crucial to note that not all cases will warrant separate reporting of extensive shoulder debridement. The decision to report <strong>CPT code 29823<\/strong> separately should be based on medical necessity and the extent of the debridement performed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is essential to review the operative report and documentation to determine whether the extent of debridement justifies separate reporting. If the debridement is minimal or included as an integral part of another primary procedure, it should not be reported separately. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proper documentation should clearly describe the extent of the debridement performed, indicating that it exceeds the usual debridement included with the primary procedure. This will help support the separate reporting of <strong>CPT code 29823<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/?utm_source=mbc-blog-orthopedic&amp;utm_medium=arthroscopy-coding-guidelines&amp;utm_campaign=AP-June-2024\"><b>Medical Billers and Coders (MBC)<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0is a leading medical billing company providing complete medical billing and coding services. Arthroscopy coding guidelines are shared only for reference purposes, you can refer to the following link for a detailed understanding. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need assistance in\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/speciality\/orthopedic-medical-billing-services.html?utm_source=mbc-blog-orthopedic&amp;utm_medium=arthroscopy-coding-guidelines&amp;utm_campaign=AP-June-2024\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">orthopedic coding or billing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0for your practice, call us at:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"tel:888-357-3226\"><b>888-357-3226<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0or email us at:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"mailto:info@medicalbillersandcoders.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">info@medicalbillersandcoders.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Reference:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/files\/document\/chapter4cptcodes20000-29999final11.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medicare NCCI Coding Policy Manual<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/medicare-coverage-database\/view\/article.aspx?articleid=52369&amp;ver=11&amp;bc=0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Billing and Coding: Arthroscopic Lavage and Arthroscopic Debridement for the Osteoarthritic Knee \u2013 Medical Policy Article<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>FAQs:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1744961571893\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">1. What is the basic principle of coding for arthroscopy?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Arthroscopy coding involves distinguishing between diagnostic and surgical procedures. Diagnostic arthroscopy is not separately reportable if it leads to surgical arthroscopy at the same encounter.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1744961589720\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">2. Can you report both diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy codes if performed during the same session?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, if a diagnostic arthroscopy leads to a surgical procedure, only the surgical arthroscopy code should be reported. Diagnostic arthroscopy is included in the surgical code.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1744961602496\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">3. How should arthroscopic debridement be coded when performed on the knee?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Arthroscopic debridement of the knee should not be reported separately with other knee arthroscopy codes except in specific cases. HCPCS code G0289 may be used under certain conditions.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1744961616353\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">4. When is extensive shoulder debridement (CPT code 29823) reported separately?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">CPT code 29823 can be reported separately if the debridement is extensive and exceeds the usual debridement included in the primary shoulder procedure. Proper documentation is required.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1744961629054\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">5. What are the billing implications if an arthroscopic procedure is converted to an open procedure?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">If an arthroscopic procedure is converted to an open procedure, only the open procedure should be reported. Neither the diagnostic nor the surgical arthroscopy codes should be reported with the open procedure code.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Basics of Arthroscopy Coding Guidelines To share arthroscopy coding guidelines, we referred National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) policy manual. CMS developed the NCCI manual to promote national correct coding of Medicare Part B claims. The Medicare NCCI promotes correct coding methodologies and controls improper coding leading to improper payment. Before going into detail about arthroscopy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[3815,3813,4911,51,1746,1138,80,799,121,143,806,1124,1522,388,385,1151,4912,3814],"class_list":["post-16212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-orthopedics-billing-services","tag-arthroscopy","tag-arthroscopy-coding","tag-arthroscopy-coding-guidelines","tag-cms","tag-coding-guidelines","tag-cpt","tag-cpt-codes","tag-hcpcs","tag-medical-coding","tag-medical-records","tag-medicare-part-b","tag-ncci","tag-orthopedic","tag-orthopedic-billing","tag-orthopedic-billing-services","tag-orthopedic-coding","tag-orthopedic-coding-or-billing","tag-surgical-arthroscopy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.5 (Yoast SEO v25.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>Arthroscopy Coding Guidelines<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the arthroscopy coding guidelines and ensure accurate billing for Medicare Part B claims. 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What is the basic principle of coding for arthroscopy?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Arthroscopy coding involves distinguishing between diagnostic and surgical procedures. Diagnostic arthroscopy is not separately reportable if it leads to surgical arthroscopy at the same encounter.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/arthroscopy-coding-guidelines\/#faq-question-1744961589720\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/arthroscopy-coding-guidelines\/#faq-question-1744961589720\",\"name\":\"2. Can you report both diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy codes if performed during the same session?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, if a diagnostic arthroscopy leads to a surgical procedure, only the surgical arthroscopy code should be reported. Diagnostic arthroscopy is included in the surgical code.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/arthroscopy-coding-guidelines\/#faq-question-1744961602496\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/arthroscopy-coding-guidelines\/#faq-question-1744961602496\",\"name\":\"3. How should arthroscopic debridement be coded when performed on the knee?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Arthroscopic debridement of the knee should not be reported separately with other knee arthroscopy codes except in specific cases. 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