Reader Question:
What if they have enough forehead for four heads?
Published on Sun Jul 15, 2012
Question: I want to make sure I'm coding a simple laceration repair to the forehead correctly. I have always used 12011-12018, but I just had a meeting with a colleague who told me I should use 12001-12007 instead because the forehead is considered part of the scalp. Which code range is correct?Florida SubscriberAnswer: Your code range is correct: for simple laceration repairs to the forehead, you should report the simple repair codes for the face, 12011-12018. Do not use the simple repair codes for the scalp, 12001-12007. The forehead is part of the face, not the scalp; the hairline usually defines the border between the two anatomical sites. This line can blur on a bald patient but in general, the scalp is on top of the head and the forehead is in the front.
