Diagnosis Code for Post Op Visits

Question:

What’s the best way to do the diagnosis coding for postop visits? I mean, does it really matter since we aren’t billing for a visit?

Answer:

Yes, it is important to accurately code the diagnosis. The ICD-10-CM guidelines for postop/aftercare include the following:

1. If the original diagnosis is trauma (eg, using an S diagnosis code)ora code that requires a 7^thcharacter (eg, M80-): then you’ll continue to use the original diagnosis code but you’ll change the 7^thcharacter to one which includes “subsequent encounter”.  For example, a finger fracture – when you fixed the fracture in surgery you used a diagnosis code with a 7th character of, say, A (initial encounter, closed fracture).  So for your postop visits (CPT 99024), you’ll use the same finger fracture diagnosis code but with a 7^thcharacter of, say, D (subsequent encounter, routine healing).

2. For non-trauma diagnoses (and those that do not require a 7^thcharacter): Now you’ll switch to a Z code when you’re using CPT 99024.  Look at the Z48.- codes…there are several that can be used such as:

Z48.00   Encounter for change or removal of nonsurgical wound dressing

Z48.01   Encounter for change or removal of surgical wound dressing

Z48.02   Encounter for removal of sutures (or staples)

Z48.03   Encounter for removal of drains

*This response is based on the best information available as of 1/31/19.

Post Op Hemorrhage Repair: Is it Billable?

Question:

Can I bill for taking the patient back to the OR to explore and repair post-op hemorrhage on day 3 post-op? I heard that all complications are included in the payment of the original surgery.

Answer:

Yes, you may bill for this.   CPT and Medicare agree that taking the patient back to the OR to treat a complication is billable. Modifier 78 (unplanned return to the OR) is appended to the procedure code(s) performed to treat the hemorrhage.  The appropriate ICD-10-CM code for a postoperative hemorrhage would also be reported.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 1/17/19.

Diagnosis Code for a Scar Contracture

Question:

What ICD-10-CM diagnosis code do I report for a patient seen for a release of scar contracture of the flexor surface of the left elbow after healing of a third degree burn?

Answer:

You would report L90.5 (scar conditions and fibrosis of the skin) and T22.322S

(Burn of third degree of left elbow, sequela).  The condition you are treating is listed first with the sequela (late effect) reported as the secondary diagnosis.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 08/09/18.

Coding a Composite Graft with Harvested Cartilage

Question:

I performed a composite graft (CPT 15760), and harvested cartilage from the ear.  Can I report for the harvesting?  If yes, what code do I use?

Answer:

You can report both 15760 (Graft; composite (eg, full thickness of external ear or nasal ala), including primary closure, donor area) and CPT 15040 (Harvest of skin for tissue cultured skin autograft, 100 sq cm or less) for harvesting the graft.  These two codes are not bundled under the National Correct Coding Initiative and can be reported together.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 06/14/18.

Removal of Mandibular Implant

Question:

We are removing old plates from the right and left mandible. It is ok to use 20680 x 2?

Answer:

There was just a CPT Assistant about this in January 2018. CPT 20680 (Removal of implant; deep (eg, buried wire, pin, screw, metal band, nail, rod or plate)) may be reported twice for removal of implants from noncontiguous sites on the same bone, such as the mandible, if separate incisions are made.  However, use 20680 only once if one incision is made to remove bilateral implants from the same bone such as the maxilla.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 04/19/18.

Fat Grafting with a Breast Revision

Question:

My doctor reports a breast revision with CPT codes 19380 and 20926 on the same breast.  Can we report the fat graft harvest in addition to the revision?

Answer:

CPT code 19380, Revision of reconstructed breast involves revising an already reconstructed breast. The code includes repositioning the breast; making adjustments to the inframammary crease; making capsular adjustments; and performing scar revisions, fat grafting, liposuction, and so on. Therefore, it is not appropriate to report the fat graft harvest with CPT 20926 as it is included in the procedure.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 03/15/18.