Facility Charges for ASC, HOPD and Hospital

Below are 2021 charges for Code 29848 and 64721. Reimbursement Information Wrist Endoscopy / Surgery Carpal Tunnel Surgery (Open) CPT™ Code: 29848 64721 PFS Relative Value Units: 15.12 12.37 Medicare Allowable (Physician Services Fee): $490.04 $446.43 Facility Fee Payment Weight: ASC: 14.7803 16.6878 Facility Fee Reimbursement: ASC: $723.53 $796.79 Facility… Continue reading

Reimbursement Guidebook for IOECTR, WALANT and OBS

As promised this is an in-depth look into IOECTR, WALANT, and OBS. It was updated Sept 2, 2021 My goal with this guidebook is to provide information on how to set up and be fairly reimbursed for In-Office Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release (IOECTR). In other words, how to set up… Continue reading

What is a Site of Service Differential?

This is the different total reimbursement, including both the Professional fees paid the the Physician and a separate payment paid to the facility (ASC, hospital outpatient, or inpatient hospital). It is described with RVU’s, explained in more detail here. Some 90-day surgeries do not have a Site of Service Differential… Continue reading

What is an Office-Based Surgery (OBS)?

Surgeries can be performed in different Places of Service (POS) Office: POS=11 Ambulatory Surgery Center: POS=22 Hospital Outpatient: POS=24 Hospital Inpatient: POS=21 Many minor surgeries such as biopsies, lesion removals and simple sutures are 10-day global procedures and routinely performed in the office. Typically a facility is used when the… Continue reading

What is WALANT?

Known as the Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet procedure this technique revolutionizes how hand and wrist surgeries are performed for conditions such as: Carpal tunnel syndrome De Quervain’s tenosynovitis Tendon ruptures Trigger finger WALANT is especially beneficial for patients who do not want to or are unable to undergo general… Continue reading

Benefits of WALANT and OBS

Many hand surgery procedures such as carpal tunnel release, tendon repair and removal of masses can now be performed under local anesthesia alone, avoiding the use of sedation or general anesthesia. The technique—known as Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia, No Tourniquet (WALANT)—can be performed in the surgeon’s office. The ability to safely… Continue reading

Obtaining Non-Facility Physician Expense RVU’s for Office-Based Surgeries

That are currently assigned as “facility-only.” These do not have a Site of Service Differential. My name is Jeffrey Restuccio, CPC, COC, I am a reimbursement expert and I’m working on a long-term project with the goal of obtaining appropriate office overhead reimbursement (non-facility physician expense RVU’s or a “facility… Continue reading

Facility Versus Non-Facility Practice Expense RVU’s For 90-Day Global Procedures

For the purpose of this project and analysis there are two types of surgical procedures. Updated Sep 2021. Facility OR office-based Facility-Only 1 Those that can be performed in the office or a facility (ASC, hospital outpatient department [HOPD] or hospital). Considered “Facility-Only”. 2 There is a Site of Service… Continue reading