10061 Complicated or multiple
Here's the lay description from Encoder Pro:
The physician makes a small incision through the skin overlying an abscess for incision and drainage (e.g., carbuncle, cyst, furuncle, paronychia, hidradenitis). The abscess or cyst is opened with a surgical instrument, allowing the contents to drain. The lesion may be curetted and irrigated. The physician leaves the surgical wound open to allow for continued drainage. For complicated or multiple cysts in 10061, the physician may place a Penrose latex drain or gauze strip packing to allow continued drainage. Complicated cysts may require later surgical closure. Report 10060 for incision and drainage of a simple or single abscess. (emphasis added by FTB)
I have shared this with our surgeons and asked that they dictate the procedure as "complicated I&D" when they use packing or drain. But even if they don't add that particular "label" to the procedure, if the body of the report includes packing, we code as 10061.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC