tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2013 Issue 9

Reader Question: 19260 Captures Chest Wall Tumor Pay

Question: The surgeon dissects down through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and latissimus dorsi muscle to expose a subcutaneous mass. The surgeon removes the mass by blunt dissection, including some surrounding soft tissue and intercostal muscle. The surgeon closes the muscle and subcutaneous tissue with sutures, followed by skin sutures. Should I report this as 13100? Texas Subscriber Answer: No, 13100 (Repair, complex, trunk; 1.1 cm to 2.5 cm) does not adequately describe your surgeon’s work. Instead, you should report 19260 (Excision of chest wall tumor including ribs). Although the surgeon performs layered closure as you’d...

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