Primary Care Coding Alert
Separate FBRs From Rust Ring Removals
Question: Operative notes indicate that a patient complaining of left eye pain reports to the FP. Our physician examines the affected area, and then uses a burr to scrape the corneal epithelium area clean of the rust ring. Should I report 65430, or is this considered an ocular foreign body removal (FBR)? Rhode Island Subscriber Answer: Both codes are inaccurate for this particular scenario. On the claim, report the following: " 65435 (Removal of corneal epithelium; with or without chemocauterization [abrasion, curettage]) for the removal " Modifier LT (Left side) appended to 65435 to indicate which side the physician is working on " 930.0 (Corneal foreign body) appended to 65435 to represent the patients injury. Explanation: While the ring is technically an FB, payers do not consider rust ring removal an FBR for coding purposes, and therefore you cannot code 65220-65222 (Removal of foreign body, external eye &) for this encounter. You should only use 65430 (Scraping of cornea, diagnostic, for smear and/or culture) for diagnostic scrapings, making it inappropriate for this scenario. -- Information for and answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions reviewed by Kent Moore, manager of health care financing and delivery systems for the American Academy of Family Physicians in Leawood, Kan.
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Separate FBRs From Rust Ring Removals
Question: Operative notes indicate that a patient complaining of left eye pain reports to the [...]
