Bundling of +22845 with +22853

Question:

How do we avoid non-payment for 22845 with 22853?

Answer:

Good Question:! Medicare instituted a National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edit between these two codes in April 2017.  This edit was established to make you really think and be sure about reporting both codes.  If indeed you are meeting the requirements of +22845 (completely separate plate that spans an interspace, plate is not integral to +22853), then you can report both codes.  You’ll need to append modifier 59 (distinct separate procedure) to +22845 to show the plate is completely separate from the intervertebral device (+22853).

*This response is based on the best information available as of 07/12/18.