Wiki E/M with surgical procedures

[AHESLER]

If a patient comes in with an abscess that is not ready to be drained and we charge an E/M for that day and then they come back in 2 or 3 days later and we charge for an I & D are we allowed to charge another E/M?

 

[medah]

E/M with surgical procedure

You are allowed only if the e&m visit was separately identifiable from the procedure that was performed (i.e. a different complaint/problem). In that case you would add the 25 modifier to the office visit. If the patient only comes in for the I&D bill the procedure only.

 

[mdoyle53]

it seems from your description that the patient waited until the abscess was ready and the determination of drainage was made at the initial visit. Therefore the patient is coming in for drainage and you cannot bill an E&M unless there is something that is significant at that point in time (and the abscess worsening would not qualify)

Mike