Wiki E/M and I&D on same DOS

[danadove]

Does anyone have guidelines or insight regarding coding for an office visit and incision and drainage on the same date of service.

For example, a patient comes in with an abscess of the right axilla and the physician documents the required elements to code for an E/M. I understand a -25 modifier would be added to the office visit.

My question is if the only reason for the visit was the abscess, when do you code for the E/M also?

D. Dove, CPC, CPC-H

 

[bethboden9@gmail.com]

You cannot bill the E/M code only the I&D. The E/M code will be denied.

 

[sfeazel]

You can code an EM code if this is the first encounter with the patient.
Use a 25 modifier. If the patient has been seen for this before and was coming back to have it drained than you cannot bill an EM code


sfeazel CPC