tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 12

READER QUESTIONS: Selective Debridement Pay Is Unlikely

Question: Can our in-office nursing staff report 97597-97598 for selective debridement? I-ve heard a lot of conflicting advice on these codes. For instance, I-ve been told that only therapists can bill for the services.Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: The short answer to your question is, yes, under narrow circumstances--and depending on your payer--your nursing staff can report selective debridement using 97597-97598. But, you probably won't get paid.The AMA released 97597 (Removal of devitalized tissue from wound[s], selective debridement, without anesthesia [e.g., high-pressure waterjet with/without suction, sharp selective debridement with scissors, scalpel and forceps], with or without topical application[s]...

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