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Wound Vac Billing
Can a wound vac be billed if a wound is partially sutured and
partially left open?
Thrombolytic Infusion
If a thrombolytic infusion catheter is placed and later in the day it is removed for an interventional procedure and then replaced after the procedure, what is the correct code to report?
10180 vs. 23930
Our surgeon did ORIF of a humeral shaft fracture. A few weeks later, the patient developed a postoperative infection. Diagnosis is 'Infected hematoma, left humerus'.
Excerpt from note:
“I removed all the sutures from the skin and the subcutaneous immediately encountered a large amount of purulent material. This was completely evacuated. Multiple cultures were sent for culture. I debrided starting with the skin down to the level of bone and washed out with a combination of saline…...”
I considered submitting 23930 Incision and drainage, upper arm or elbow; deep abscess or hematoma. CPT 10180 Incision and drainage, complex, postoperative wound infection could also work. Which one would be a better choice here, considering it was a musculoskeletal procedure?
LECA & Lami?
Our practice is slightly confused. In the setting of a LECA corpectomy, is a laminectomy separately reportable? Can KZA provide some clarity for our practice?
Claim Denial with Modifiers 24/58
I have been getting denied for office visits (99212-99215) billed during a global period. I bill the E/M code with a modifier 24, and/or 58 and the claims still get denied for “separately billed services/tests as they are considered components of the procedure. Separate payment is not allowed.” According to the conferences I have attended for KZA, we’ve been told that we can bill and E/M code with modifier 24, but the insurances do not cover it. Do you have any other suggestions on how to get these claims paid?
Wart Destruction with Liquid Nitrogen
A saw an established patient who I say for evaluation of a wart on the arm. The wart is moderate in severity. I evaluated the wart, performed a skin exam and removed the wart with liquid nitrogen and told the patient to come back PRN. My coder tells me I can only report the wart destruction and not a visit code. Is that correct?
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