tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2009 Issue 11

You Be the Coder: Modifier 51 vs. Modifier 59

Question: I am coding four different debridement sites on the foot but they are all at different areas. I am planning to use 11043 times three and 11040 once. I intend to add modifier 51 to all the codes except the first 11043. Is this correct coding, or is modifier 59 more appropriate? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: You are correct about the procedures codes you'll report: 11043 (Debridement; skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle) and 11040 (Debridement; skin, partial thickness). However, you should not be using modifier 51 (Multiple procedures). Instead, you should be using modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service). Here...

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