American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery position statement on describing and coding paraesophageal hernia repair with concurrent bariatric surgery

Christopher Crawford, M.D., Michael Cook, M.D., Don Selzer, M.D., Maria Iliakova, M.D., and Matthew Brengman, M.D., for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Insurance Committee

The following updated statement is issued by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) in response to numerous inquiries made to the Society by physicians, society members, billing/coding staff, hospitals, and others, regarding the description and coding of paraesophageal hernia repair with concurrent bariatric surgery. This recommendation is based on current clinical knowledge, expert opinion, and published peer-reviewed scientific evidence available at this time. The statement is not intended as, and should not be construed as, stating or establishing a local, regional, or national standard of care. This is also not intended to replace the collaboration with a certified professional coder in creating and submitting claims for these procedures. This paper is intended to build on the paper previously published by ASMBS in 2015, “National Correct Coding Initiative Enacts New Procedure-to-Procedure Coding Edit for Primary Bariatric Surgery and Paraesophageal Hernia Repair.”