ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the ED physician performed a partial thickness excisional debridement of a patient's wound. Should I use 97597 or 11040 for this service?

California Subscriber

Answer: Since the physician performed the debridement and the notes indicate that it was an excisional debridement, you should report 11040 (Debridement; skin, partial thickness) for the service.

Coders typically choose 97597 (Removal of devitalized tissue from wound[s], selective debridement, without anesthesia [e.g., high pressure waterjet with/without suction, sharp selective debridement with scissors, scalpel and forceps] ...) when non-physician providers (physical therapists, wound care nurses, etc.) perform non-surgical debridement on a patient's wound. If the ED physician performs a surgical debridement, choose from the debridement codes (11040-11044).