Wiki 11042

[deannewoods17]

My physician documented that they " Debridement of skin, partial-thickness including dermal tissue was performed, #15 scalpel used to remove all non-viable soft tissue from ulcer base and ulcer periphery." Does that qualify as skin & subQ tissue? Just trying to verify the wording used to support 11042. Thanks!

 

[podcoder70]

To bill a 11042, the doctor would have debrided "down into and including subq tissue". What he/she documented sounds more like a 97597 "Debridement (eg, high pressure waterjet with/without suction, sharp selective debridement with scissors, scalpel and forceps), open wound (eg, fibrin, devitalized epidermis and/or dermis, exudate, debris, biofilm), including topical application(s), wound assessment, use of whirlpool, when performed and instruction(s) for ongoing care, per session; total wound(s) surface area; first 20 sq cm or less".

 

[lipstick]

Agreed, because the only thing noted is "debridement...including dermal tissue".