Question: The urologist incised and drained a peri-urethral cyst. He said it would be like CPT 53040 , but the abscess was not deep. I suggested 10060, but he said that was not it. Should I report 53040 with modifier -52 appended for reduced services?
Ohio Subscriber
Answer: If your doctor does not believe that 53040 (Drainage of deep periurethral abscess) is the correct procedure code because the lesion was superficial, then 10060 (Incision and drainage of abscess [e.g., carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle or paronychia]; simple or single) would be the proper code for the procedure performed.
