ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: After a level-two ED E/M service, the physician performs local burn treatment with debridement of a second-degree burn on a patient's left forearm. The patient also is diagnosed with some small patches of first degree burns in the same area How should I order the diagnosis codes for this treatment?Indiana SubscriberAnswer: When the patient suffers burns of differing severity in the same anatomical area, diagnosis coding rules require that you code the most severe burn first. On the claim, report the following:16020 (Dressings and/or debridement of partial-thickness burns, initial or subsequent; small [less than 5% total body surface area]) for the burn treatment99282 (Emergency department visit for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires these 3 key components: an expanded problem focused history; an expanded problem focused examination; and medical decision making of low complexity ...) for the E/M servicemodifier 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management [...]