Surgery Center Coding Guidance: X-Stop Procedure

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The following article is written by Stephanie Ellis, RN, CPC, president of Ellis Medical Consulting.

 

The X-STOP procedure is a minimally invasive procedure to treat lumbar spinal stenosis (crowding of the nerve roots in the spine), which causes back and leg pain (radiculitis or sciatica).

 

In this procedure, a titanium device is inserted into the posterior spine to prevent the patient from bending too far backward (hyper-extending the spine) at the area where the stenosis is present in the spine. This procedure is performed as an alternative to open laminectomy back surgery procedures.

 

The X-STOP spinal distraction procedure is coded with Category III codes. Use code 0171T for the insertion of a posterior spinous process distraction device (including necessary removal of bone or ligament for insertion and imaging guidance), lumbar; single level.

 

Add-on code 0172T is used for the insertion of posterior spinous process distraction device (including necessary removal of bone or ligament for insertion and imaging guidance), lumbar; each additional level (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure). Use code L8699 for billing the implant used in the procedure.

 

Learn more about Ellis Medical Consulting.

 

The information provided should be utilized for educational purposes only. Please consult with your billing and coding expert. Facilities are ultimately responsible for verifying the reporting policies of individual commercial and MAC/FI carriers prior to claim submissions.

 

Related Articles on Spine Coding:

Surgery Center Coding Guidance: Grafts Used in Spine Surgery

Surgery Center Coding Guidance: Cages Used in Spine Surgery

Surgery Center Coding Guidance: Spinal Instrumentation

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