tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2009 Issue 4

Reader Questions: Physician Role Drives Debridement Coding

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the ED physician performed a partial thickness excisional debridement of a patient's wound. Should I use 97597 or 11040 for this service? California Subscriber Answer: Since the physician performed the debridement and the notes indicate that it was an excisional debridement, you should report 11040 (Debridement; skin, partial thickness) for the service. Coders typically choose 97597 (Removal of devitalized tissue from wound[s], selective debridement, without anesthesia [e.g., high pressure waterjet with/without suction, sharp selective debridement with scissors, scalpel and forceps] ...) when non-physician providers (physical therapists, wound care nurses, etc.) perform non-surgical...

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

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