Medicare Benefits Schedule - Item 51165

Search Results for Item 51165

View Associated Notes

Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES

51165

51165 - Additional Information

Item Start Date:
01-Nov-2018
Description Updated:
01-Mar-2024
Schedule Fee Updated:
01-Nov-2023

Group
T8 - Surgical Operations
Subgroup
17 - Spinal Surgery

Anterior exposure of thoracic or lumbar spine, more than one motion segment, excluding vertebral body tethering for the treatment of scoliosis and not being a service to which item 51160 applies (H)

Multiple Operation Rule

(Anaes.) (Assist.)

Fee: $1,596.05 Benefit: 75% = $1,197.05

(See para TN.8.141, TN.8.149 of explanatory notes to this Category)


Associated Notes

Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES

TN.8.141

Application of items 51011 to 51171 (Sub-group 17)

Spinal surgery items 51011 to 51171 cannot be performed in conjunction with any other item (outside of subgroup 17) in Group T8 of the MBS (surgical operation items 30001 to 50952), when that surgical item is related to spinal surgery. Items 50600 to 50644 - spine surgery for scoliosis and kyphosis in paediatric patients - are excepted from this rule when claimed in conjunction with items 51113 and 51114.

 

Meaning of Motion Segment

Motion segment is defined as including all anatomical structures (including traversing and exiting nerve roots) between and including the top of the pedicle above to the bottom of the pedicle below.

 

Combined Anterior and Posterior Surgery

Combined anterior/ posterior surgery items 51061, 51062, 51063, 51064, 51065 and 51066 cannot be claimed with any item between 51020 and 51045 (i.e. items for spinal instrumentation, posterior bone graft and/or anterior column fusion).

 

Spinal instrumentation

Spinal instrumentation items 51021 to 51026 cannot be claimed for vertebral body tethering for the treatment of scoliosis. Medicare benefits are not payable for this procedure.

Full clinical details should be documented in the patient notes, including the number of motion segments fused, which demonstrates the clinical need for the service, as this may be subject to audit.

 

Interpretation of Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Lumbar spinal fusion may not be claimed for chronic low back pain for which a diagnosis has not been made.

Related Items: 51011 51012 51013 51014 51015 51020 51021 51022 51023 51024 51025 51026 51031 51032 51033 51034 51035 51036 51041 51042 51043 51044 51045 51051 51052 51053 51054 51055 51056 51057 51058 51059 51061 51062 51063 51064 51065 51066 51071 51072 51073 51102 51103 51110 51111 51112 51113 51114 51115 51120 51130 51131 51140 51141 51145 51150 51160 51165 51170 51171

Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES

TN.8.149

Application of items 51160 and 51165

If the spine surgeon performs their own exposure to the thoracic or lumbar spine then 51160 or 51165 can be added to the claim for the overall surgery.  If an assisting surgeon is used at any time during the procedure, then 51160 or 51165 should be used in isolation by the assisting surgeon. If the assisting surgeon needs to perform complex non-spinal surgery, they may use a more appropriate item but not in combination with 51160 or 51165.  If an exposure surgeon claims a number from any section of the MBS schedule, the spinal surgeon cannot claim 51160 or 51165.

Related Items: 51160 51165


Legend

  • Assist - Addition/Deletion of (Assist.)
  • Amend - Amended Description
  • Anaes - Anaesthetic Values Amended
  • Emsn - EMSN Change
  • Fee - Fee Amended
  • Renum - Item Number Change (renumbered)
  • New - New Item
  • NewMin - New Item (previous Ministerial Determination)
  • Qfe - QFE Change