Coding Challenge

Check for Fracture Diagnosis Before Coding Repair

Don’t code a closed fracture treatment code without more information.

Question: Our orthopedist saw a patient in the emergency department for a gunshot wound and diagnosed a metacarpal fracture. He irrigated the site and removed a foreign body. Can we...

Comments Off on Check for Fracture Diagnosis Before Coding Repair
April 22, 2010
Coder's Cranium / surgery

Factor Location and Depth into Foreign-Body Removals

Explore these three “what if” scenarios to perfect your FBR claims. Your foreign-body removal (FBR) coding can vary greatly depending on the type of foreign body, its anatomic location, and the depth from which the physician must remove it. Here are three case studies to help you find your way. Case 1: No Incision Means No Separate [...] Related articles:

  1. Coding Challenge: Foot Foreign Body Removal Vs. Soft-Tissue FBRQuestion: Our physician performed a foreign-body removal (FBR) on a...
  2. Know What Separates FBR From E/M or Lose $80 in Pay Here’s why ‘incision’ with non-scalpel instrument could be an...
  3. Burn Coding: Calculate Total Body Surface Area (TBSA)Investigate your physician’s documentation to determine the body area percentage...

Comments Off on Factor Location and Depth into Foreign-Body Removals
February 15, 2010