tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2006 Issue 6

Reader Questions: Capture Complete Eyewash Service With E/M Code

Question: A patient who had a chemical splashed in her eye came to the emergency department, and the nurse irrigated the patient's eye. Can we charge for removal of a foreign object from the eye?Florida Subscriber Answer: No. You should not report a foreign-body removal code, since the patient received an eyewash. FBRs (65205, Removal of foreign body, external eye; conjunctival superficial) require more work and time than a simple eyewash entails. Try this: Report the appropriate-level evaluation and management code for the service.  Typically, the physician may prescribe a mild antibiotic for a few days...

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.