Cholecystotomy Procedure

Question:

How should you code an open cholecystotomy, with a drain placement and a biopsy of the gallbladder wall is performed. Can the biopsy of the gallbladder be separately reported?

Answer:

No, the biopsy of the gallbladder wall is not separately reportable this is bundled and inclusive to the cholectstotomy. The correct code to report for this procedure would be CPT 47480,Cholecystotomy or cholecystostomy, open, with exploration, drainage, or removal of calculus (separate procedure).

*This response is based on the best information available as of 12/14/23.