Umbilical Hernia Repair with another Laparoscopic Procedure

Question:

When our surgeon is performing a non-hernia laparoscopic procedure and a port is placed in the umbilicus, can we also code to repair a known asymptomatic umbilical hernia at the same time as the non-hernia laparoscopic procedure?

Answer:

No;  when a laparoscopic port is placed at the umbilical site, the repair of the umbilical hernia would be considered included and not separately reported. 

*This response is based on the best information available as of 620/24.