Wiki Migrated pin removal

[lizzardb]

If the patient is in the post op period for an ORIF of an open proximal phalangeal fracture and one of the pins has migrated through the skin and was removed in the office, can we still bill 20670?

 

[OCD_coder]

A 20670 can only be done in the office, not in the OR unless another procedure is being done and it is more beneficial to the patient while they are under anesthesia. So if the physician just grasped the pin with a pair of surgical pliers and pulled it out after numbing the area all in the office, yes you can bill it. I would apply a mod-58 as it is related/staged to the ORIF.

A little insite to your question:
http://www.coa.org/docs/CodingZupko.pdf

 

[lizzardb]

Thank you for your reply. My biggest concern was if it still applied since no incision had to be made according to the office note. A coworker feels we shouldn't bill for it for that reason. This will help me back up my decision.