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Primary Care Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Scalpel Use Cuts Swath to I&D

Published on Fri Jan 01, 2010

Question: A 48-year-old established patient with a plan of care in place for her type II diabetes reports to the family physician (FP) complaining of a painful left index finger. She says the digit has been red and swollen for the past three days, and she rates the pain a 6 on a 10-point scale. The FP provides a level-three E/M service, during which he notes "fluctuance limited to area surrounding lateral nail fold. Final Dx: Paronychia." Using a scalpel, the FP performs incision and drainage (I&D), flushes the area with saline and has the nonphysician practitioner (NPP) dress the wound. Does this qualify as an I&D for coding purposes? Minnesota Subscriber Answer: Since the FP used a scalpel and irrigation to treat paronychia, this qualifies as an I&D. On the claim, report the following: • 10060 (Incision and drainage of abscess [e.g., carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, [...]
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