Question:
Clariification Needed: Gastric Surgery for Clinically Sever Obesity 15 CPT-4:43847

What exactly does this guidline say?    — Joyce K. (posted on August 1, 2003)

August 1, 2003
Well the CPT 43847 is the procedure code for an open RNY. Your BMI will most likely have to be 40 or over. Is this what your insurance is saying? Clinically I would have to assume that they means "medicaly necessary".Hope this helps, email me if I can help any more. Good luck!
   — Ashley S.

August 1, 2003
One source defines 43847 as : Gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for morbid obesity; with small bowel reconstruction to limit absorption. Not sure if this is word-for-word from the AMA CPT book, finally threw my old ones away.
   — bethybb