Dermatology Coding Alert
Say Goodbye to Your Modifier -59 Woes
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This flowchart helps you learn the do's and don'ts of distinct procedural services
If you struggle to keep your bundled codes straight and make sure you report the codes separately or bundled every time, you are not alone.
Suppose your dermatologist performs two procedures, such as an injection (J2001, Injection, lidocaine HCl for intravenous infusion, 10 mg) and a debridement (11000, Debridement of extensive eczematous or infected skin; up to 10% of body surface). You look at the National Correct Coding Initiative version 10.2 edits and see that NCCI bundles the two codes together.
So you append modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service) to the bundled code and hope for the best, right? No.
Use this handy tool to help you decide if you should append a modifier at all and the modifier of best choice every time.
Dermatology Coding Alert
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Say Goodbye to Your Modifier -59 Woes
This flowchart helps you learn the do\'s and don\'ts of distinct procedural services
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The answer to a reader's question in the September 2005 Dermatology Coding Alert ("Append 59 [...]