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Primary Care Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS :

Separate FBRs From Rust Ring Removals

Published on Sat Jun 06, 2009

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 [...]
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