tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2010 Issue 6

Reader Questions: Make Separate Nature Clear, Give I&D -- E/M Claims Wings

Question:A patient reports to the ED with a cyst in the mucosal tissue of her left cheek. The ED physician performs a level-two E/M service, diagnoses an intra oral hematoma, and then uses a scalpel to cut a tiny slit in the wound to drain it; the wound is not infected. Can I report a separate code for the incision and drainage (I&D) of the hematoma, or is it part of the E/M?Nevada SubscriberAnswer:As long as the notes prove a significant, separately identifiable E/M service, then both the ED E/M and the I&D should stand up...

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.