General Surgery Coding Alert
Extra Cleaning Earns Intermediate Repair
Question: Our surgeon removed extensive debris from a wound that then required a single-layer closure. Should I report this service with a code for wound repair or a code for foreign-body removal?
Ohio Subscriber
Answer: Because the doctor performed extensive removal of particulate debris, you should report an intermediate code for the repair, such as 12041 (Layer closure of wounds of neck, hands, feet and/or external genitalia; 2.5 cm or less).
Tip: CPT states that -single-layer closure of heavily contaminated wounds that have required extensive cleaning or removal of particulate matter also constitutes intermediate repair.- Payers following CPT rules recognize the extra work of the extensive cleaning and removal through more intensive and higher-valued intermediate repair codes.
General Surgery Coding Alert
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Question: How can we report placement of a laparoscopic Tenckhoff dialysis catheter?
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Extra Cleaning Earns Intermediate Repair
Question: Our surgeon removed extensive debris from a wound that then required a single-layer closure. [...] - Reader Questions:
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Count Readmission as Separate Service
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