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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

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.
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