Wiki Risk of complication- buddy tape

[umas86]

The patient visits for f/u of left small finger phalanx fracture.(healing) The physician discontinues the cast(already using) and buddy tape her small and ring finger. I considered this low and coded 99213. But I received a response as buddy tape falls under Risk of complication table and should be considered as S/F. Any one please help whether this scenario can be coded as 99212 or 99213. Thank you

 

[carlystur]

I think Buddy Tape would fall close in Risk to Elastic Bandages and maybe Superficial Dressings, which are listed under Straightforward risk, per AAPC's E/M Calculator: https://www.aapc.com/codes/em-calculator/

 

[amyjph]

If they took off the cast (was it a cast or splint?), the fracture is almost done healing, and all they did is buddy tape for protection for a little longer, no data (unless they did updated XR to check before taking the cast off), there are no neurovascular issues (like numbness, tingling, blood flow issues, etc.) it's probably a 2.