Primary Care Coding Alert
Stop Ticking Services Away
Question: My family physician (FP) removed an embedded tick from a patient's upper arm. He also checked the patient for signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. How should I report the visit and removal? Connecticut Subscriber Answer: Most visits for tick removal are very quick and uncomplicated. For the tick removal and office visit, you should report the appropriate-level E/M code, such as 99211-99215 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient ) based on the level of history, evaluation and medical decision-making documented in performing the service and the removal. Although you may be tempted to look for a way to separately report the tick removal, such as a foreign-body removal code (24200, Removal of foreign body, upper arm or elbow area; subcutaneous), these codes require incision. Tick removal normally does not require surgical incision. Therefore, the procedure would not warrant a surgical code, and you instead should include the removal in the E/M service.
Primary Care Coding Alert
- Dont Book That Package Until You Check Out These Divided Pregnancy Care Coding Tips
When your family physician (FP) shares maternity care outside a group-practice setting, you will have [...] - Are You Sewing Up Scrapes Correctly?:
A 4-Step Test Will Ensure Flawless Coding
With long summer days right around the corner, fitness fanatics long cooped up inside will [...] - You Be the Coder:
To Interpret and to Read Is What Matters
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question :
Stop Ticking Services Away
Question: My family physician (FP) removed an embedded tick from a patient's upper arm. He [...] - Reader Question :
Nail Foot-Care Payment
Question: A Medicare diabetic patient presents for nail trimming of onychonosus nails. Would the carrier [...] - Reader Question :
Compare PFSH to Disease Diagnosis
Question: When should I use a diagnosis of family history of malignant neoplasm rather than [...] - Reader Question :
Measure Your Supply Code Knowledge
Question: My family physician administered 2 milliliters (mL) of Decadron with 1 mL = 4 [...] - Reader Question :
Ignoring New TPI Rules Is Painful
Question: Insurers keep denying trigger point injection (TPI) claims with 20550. For instance, my family [...] - Reader Question :
Use ICD-9 to Explain Unusual Lactation
Question: How should I code hyperprolactinemia due to psychological medications? Would 253.7 and/or 790.99 be [...]
