tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2007 Issue 11

Reader Questions: Include I&D in Excision

Question: Prior to excision, the surgeon had to incise and drain a pilonidal cyst. May we report the I&D separately, or is it included in the excision? Arizona Subscriber Answer: No, you cannot report the incision and drainage separately. CMS guidelines set forth in the national Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) state, "In cases where, in the course of an excision of a lesion, an area of involvement is identified which requires drainage, either as a part of the procedure or to gain access to the area of interest, coding/billing for incision and drainage of this fluid collection would...

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