tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2002 Issue 10

Reader Question: Simple and Complex Abscesses

Question: I frequently incise and drain abscesses, and wonder, from a billing point of view, what constitutes the difference between simple and complex drainage procedures. Also, what is the difference between incising a superficial abscess and I&D abscess? Finally, if I were to curette out a lesion like a spider bite, how should I code it? Is it the same as abscess even though the work is more intricate? New Mexico SubscriberAnswer: 10060* (Incision and drainage of abscess [e.g., carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia]; simple or single) is a starred procedure...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert.


You have ED coding questions, and we deliver money-in-the-bank answers to help you defeat your claim issues and secure optimal reimbursement.

Stay in the know and avoid federal reproach with your subscription to TCI’s ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert.

  • Current newsletters added each month
  • Fully searchable archives - over 2100 articles
  • ALL years/issues back to 1998 organized by year and issue
  • Codes mentioned in articles are linked to Code Information pages
  • Code Information pages link back to related articles
Access to this feature is available in the following products:
  • tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert +Archives

demo
request yours today
 subscribe
start today
 newsletter
free subscription

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.