Our surgeon has recently started performing “minimally invasive” total knee replacement as he describes the procedure. What CPT code do I use to report this case?

Minimally invasive surgery is reported the same as if the physician made a regular incision. If the physician states s/he performed a minimally invasive approach for a total knee replacement use the appropriate code for the total knee such as 27447. Do not append a modifier 22, “unusual service” modifier to this CPT code just because the physician dictated “minimally invasive” procedure.

Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P
KarenZupko & Associates, Inc.