Wiki Foreign body removal from the ear

[debbiek]

Can anyone advise if removing an ear bud or small piece of material from the ear with just alligator forceps would be considered a foreign body removal (69200) OR, would that just be considered an E&M code??

CHART NOTES STATE: ..."... The simple foreign body was identified. The foreign body was located in the: ear. The foreign body was located and removed with alligator forceps. Patient tolerated the procedure well. . Instructions were provided to the patient as documented elsewhere.'

I cannot find SPECIFIC information on what constitutes proper use of the code for a foreign body removal from the ear. Appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[prayercoder]

Removal of foreign body in ear.

That is the correct code.
Here is the lay description of the code:

Under direct visualization, the physician or technician removes a foreign body from the external auditory canal using delicate forceps, a cerumen spoon, or suction. In the case of a live insect, oil is dropped into the ear to immobilize it before it is removed. No anesthetic or local anesthetic is used.

This is the code description:69200
Removal foreign body from external auditory canal; without general anesthesia

 

[debbiek]

thank you very much!!