Wiki Removal of pancreatitic drainage tube

[Mklaubauf]

Hi,
This patient had pacreatic surgery at a different academic center. She came to our office to have her drain removed. (She still has her jejunostomy feeding tube in place). All we did was cut the suture and removed the drain.

Is there a procedure code for that. I see where there is a code to insert a pancreatic drain, but should I only charge an E/M service for this?

Marci

 

[FTessaBartels]

Two options

Either you charge ONLY the E/M for this single visit ....

-OR-

If the patient will be receiving ALL her post-operative care by you, you should be coding the same CPT code used by the operating surgeon with a -55 modifier (the other surgeon should then have used the 54 modifier).

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC

 

[Mklaubauf]

It does help.
Thank you,
Marci