Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
Buckle Down on Scleral Buckle Coding
Pennsylvania Subscriber
Answer: The proper procedure code for removal of the buckle is 67120 (Removal of implanted material, posterior segment; extraocular). If an infection is causing the buckle to extrude and bother the patient, you need to code the underlying problem that is causing the extrusion of the buckle as the primary diagnosis and the reason the buckle was originally placed as a secondary diagnosis.
In this case, use 996.69 (Infection and inflammatory reaction due to internal prosthetic device, implant, and graft; due to other internal prosthetic device, implant, and graft) as the primary diagnosis and the appropriate retinal detachment code -- such as 361.00 (Retinal detachment with retinal defect, unspecified) or 361.02 (Recent detachment, partial, with multiple defects).
If the buckle were not infected, but was still bothering the patient, you could use 996.59 (Complications peculiar to certain specified procedures; due to other implant and internal device, not elsewhere classified) as the primary diagnosis code.
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