How to Code a Ganglion Impar
A ganglion impar is a small protrusion at the end of the coccyx or tailbone. This can cause coccyx pain, also referred to as coccydynia. Coccydynia can be caused by a fall that is termed as traumatic. It can also be idiopathic, meaning that the origin or cause of the pain is unknown. A physician can sometimes perform a nerve block injection at the ganglion impar. For most patients, this injection treatment provides 100 percent relief of coccydynia when performed under fluoroscopic guidance.Things You'll Need
- Patient medical record
- Insurance claim submission form
- CPT coding manual
Instructions
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Use the code 64505 or 64510 to code for a ganglion impar injection. The code here depends on the location of the injection. The 64510 would be used for an injection in the area of the spine.
The ganglion impar is the only unpair sympathetic ganglion in the body. A ganglion impar is commonly injected for a diagnosis of rectal pain due to a tumor or trauma. Ganglion cysts of the wrist can also cause pain and require an injection to relieve pain.
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Report an additional code from the CPT series 64490 to 64495 to indicate if fluoroscopic guidance or other radiographic imaging was used during the procedure. Guidance is almost always used along with this procedure. Also report a -50 modifier if this is a bilateral procedure.
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Report a code 25111 or 25112 to code the excision of a ganglion cyst. This code typically applies to ganglion of the wrist.
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Check the claim for errors. If you have any questions regarding a specific payer's guidelines, call the insurance company. Speak with a representative to ask how you should proceed with billing the claim properly.
Clean claims without errors are reimbursed much more quickly than claims with errors since the claims with errors must be resubmitted. Once a claim has been resubmitted, the payer's response time resets for an additional 30 days, delaying payments.
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Submit the insurance claim to the third-party payer for reimbursement.
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