The development of specific CPT codes for cranial endoscopic surgery has been an on-going topic for discussion among members of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery. A 1996 survey of a selected group of surgeons who perform a substantial volume of cranial endoscopic procedures demonstrated variation in billing practices using existing, nonspecific CPT codes. The respondents indicated that payers generally were reimbursing them for their work.
Because of the risk that development of new CPT codes for endoscopy might actually lead to lower reimbursement, the Executive Council of the Joint Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery decided at its 1996 Annual Meeting in Charleston to take no further steps toward approval of new codes. Payers’ reimbursement practices are, however, in a state of continual evolution, and the Executive Council wishes to continue to monitor the experiences of the membership. Members are encouraged to contact Joseph Piatt, MD, at (503) 494-8070, fax (503) 494-7161, e-mail [email protected], to report denials of payment or other difficulties.