tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2006 Issue 4

READER QUESTIONS: Opt for 1 Code With Drainage Versus Excision

Question: A patient has an existing diagnosis of benign inflamed seborrheic keratosis in her cheek. The physician opens the site with an incision and drains pus from the wound, then removes the sebaceous material. He takes a biopsy and submits the specimen to pathology, and the lab agrees with the keratinous cyst diagnosis. Should I bill an excision in addition to an incision and drainage (I&D)?Texas Subscriber Answer: You should not report the excision. The physician either drains the whole cyst or excises it. She can't do both, because an excision would remove the whole cyst by...

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