ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: The ED physician repaired a laceration of the finger (12001) and applied a finger splint (29130). Which modifier should I append to the splint code - modifier -59 or -51?

Oklahoma Subscriber

Answer: If you're reporting both 29130 (Application of finger splint; static) and 12001 (Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk, and/or extremities [including hands and feet]; 2.5 cm or less), you should append modifier -51 (Multiple procedures) to 29130 because the two services take place at the same anatomic site.
 
Although you could also append modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service) to describe this scenario, CPT instructs you to use it only if no more descriptive modifier is available - which you have with -51.