AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2004 Issue 4; Ask the Editor
Excisional Debridement
According to Coding Clinic, Second Quarter 2000, page 9, it is appropriate to assign code 86.22, Excisional debridement of wound, infection, or burn, when a health care provider such as a physical therapist performs an excisional debridement. However, Coding Clinic has also advised that code assignment is only based on physician documentation. For coding purposes, when the physical therapist documents “excisional debridement†must the attending countersign or confirm this procedure in the medical record? ...
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Article Overview
This article reviews a documentation and code-assignment question involving excisional debridement and physician confirmation, citing guidance from Coding Clinic. It is intended for coders, CDI professionals, and billing staff who need to understand the scope of the guidance and the type of source referenced. The article focuses on how the published guidance is applied in the context of provider documentation and record support.
Why This Topic Matters
Documentation source and attribution can affect coding decisions and compliance, so this topic is relevant to staff responsible for procedure reporting and record review.
What You Will Learn
- How excisional debridement documentation is discussed in coding guidance
- The role of physician documentation and confirmation in the context of the article
- How Coding Clinic guidance is referenced for this procedure topic
- The type of coding question raised by provider-documented procedures
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation integrity specialists
- Billing and reimbursement staff
- Healthcare compliance staff
Codes Discussed
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