tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2003 Issue 6

Reader Question: Dont Back Away From Burn Codes

Question: A patient presents with second-degree burns on the forearm. The physician dictates that wounds were dressed with Silvadene. The nursing notes state that the physician debrided the area. Should I include this work in the E/M code, or should I separately report the debridement and dressing work under the physician? Pennsylvania SubscriberAnswer: You should check the 16000 code series, Burns, Local Treatment. Most ED burns warrant code  16020* (Dressings and/or debridement, initial or subsequent; without anesthesia, office or hospital, small). Look at another burn code, 16000 (Initial treatment, first degree burn, when no more than local treatment is...

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.