Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy

Question:

Can we charge a thyroidectomy (e.g., 60240) when we do a parathyroidectomy (60500)

Answer:

Yes, but only if there is different pathology to support 60500.  The CPT Assistant from December 2012 states the following:

When a thyroidectomy is performed for malignancy, the parathyroid glands may also be removed, and because this would be considered incidental, the parathyroidectomy (60500) would not be separately reported. For example, if a left thyroidectomy was incidental to a left parathyroid biopsy and resection, then the work is considered inclusive of the parathyroid gland removal described by code 60500, as this code refers to all four parathyroid glands and is not reported as a unilateral procedure. Therefore, only code 60500 would be reported. However, if the thyroid lobectomy was performed for an independent diagnosis, then code 60220 would also be reported with modifier 59, Distinct Procedural Service, appended.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 10/31/19.