ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
Removal of Retained Tissue
Question: A woman with heavy vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping presented to the ED. After the history of present illness and exam, the physician ordered an ultrasound that confirmed that she had an incomplete spontaneous abortion. The ED physician removed the retained products with forceps. What is the procedure code for this? Washington Subscriber Answer: It depends on the specific service provided. Typically, the tissue retained after an incomplete spontaneous abortion is located near the opening of the cervix. The physician removes the tissue with a ring forceps. This level of service should be reported with the appropriate E/M code (e.g., 99283, Emergency department visit), depending on the physicians documentation in the patients record. It would be unusual for the ED physician to perform a D&C (57820, Dilation and curettage of cervical stump), which would represent a separately billable service. When the patient requires this type of care after a miscarriage, a gynecologist or obstetrician is usually called in to provide treatment.
ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
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Reduction with Anesthesia
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Interpreting Radiology Reports
Question: If an ED physician performs a bladder scan for residual urine and provides a [...] - Clarification:
Report Digital Blocks in Addition to Starred Procedures
An article in the February 2002 issue of Emergency Department Coding Alert prompted reader questions [...] - Reader Question:
Removal of Retained Tissue
Question: A woman with heavy vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping presented to the ED. After [...] - Reader Question:
Physician-Placed NG Tubes
Question: We have had problems getting paid when our ED doctors place NG tubes. What [...] - Reader Question:
Death of a Patient
Question: One of our patients died before a full EKG was completed. Is the coding [...]
