Lumbar Drain in a Cranial Procedure

Question:

Can placement of a lumber drain be billed separately with a cranial procedure? I heard that placing drains is not billable.

Answer:

You are correct that placement of a drain in the surgical site/exposure is not separately billable. Placing a lumber drain via a separate incision ( in the back) during a cranial procedure is billable as it is in a separate anatomic location.

Report code 62272 if placed without fluoroscopic guidance and 62329 if fluoroscopy is used. The fluoroscopy is not separately billed.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 03/02/23.