Wiki Wound Debridement Billing Question

[SamanthaMcMahon]

I do the physician billing for our Wound Healing Center. When a patient has 2 separate debridements done within the same encounter on 2 different ulcers, i.e. a 11042 and a 11044, what is the correct way to bill this? Which code should be my first line on the claim, and should I be using a modifier such as the 59 modifier? Thank you!

 

[espressoguy]

The 59 goes on the 11042.

Make sure that the documentation clearly reflects that the 2 debridements were for different depths wounds.

 

[SamanthaMcMahon]

Okay, thank you! Just to verify - would the 11044 be my first line on the claim with the 11042 on the second line with modifier 59?