tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2003 Issue 12

You Be the Coder: Repeat Visits During Global Periods

Question: Six days ago, our physician saw a patient for drainage of a complicated abscess on his back. Today, the same patient presented with a severe headache and was treated by the physician. Can I code the second visit separately, or is it included in the global period for the abscess drainage?Wisconsin Subscriber Answer: Report 10061 (Incision and drainage of abscess [e.g., carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia]; complex or multiple) for the draining of the abscess. For the second visit, report the appropriate-level E/M code from the 99281-99285 series (Emergency department...

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