Procedure with Spine Surgeon

Question:

I was asked, by a new spine surgeon in town, to do the cervical approach for an anterior cervical decompression and fusion.  Do I use a regular neck dissection code such as 38724?

Answer:

Oh no, 38724 is for a modified radical neck dissection requiring removal of lymph nodes.  The cervical approach is actually included in the spine surgeon’s ACDF code.  This means you’ll both bill the same code, probably 22551, with modifier 62 (two surgeons or co-surgery).  Use +22552-62 for each additional level for which you do the cervical approach.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 03/04/21.