ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: A patient reports to the ED with swelling and minor blisters on the tops of his feet. The physician diagnoses sunburn and directly treats it with a cold, wet compress on the area. He discusses several factors (the sunburn, expected progression, proper treatment, pain management, prevention) with the patient, and then discharges him with instructions to follow up with his primary care physician (PCP) if the wounds showed signs of deterioration. What procedure code should I use for the burn treatment?

Arkansas Subscriber

Answer: Since the burn care involves treatment, you can report 16000 (Initial treatment, first degree burn, when no more than local treatment is required) for the burn care.

-- Reader Questions and You Be the Coder reviewed by Michael A. Granovsky, MD, CPC, FACEP, president of MRSI, an ED coding and billing company in Woburn, Mass.