Dermatology Coding Alert
Call on G Code for Dermabond
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Question: Which code should I use to report Dermabond? I know the status indicator for G0168 changed for 2005, but does the code describe a procedure or a supply?
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: The code describes the supply. The status indicator of G0168 (Wound closure utilizing tissue adhesive[s] only) is now "N," meaning it represents an incidental service. This means you can report the code, but you won't receive any reimbursement for it.
According to CMS, wound adhesives are now considered supplies used for laceration repair, so their costs are packaged into the procedures' costs. Report the repair using the repair codes 12001-13160.
The introduction to that group of codes in the CPT manual explains that they "designate wound closure using sutures, staples or tissue adhesives (e.g., 2-cyanoacrylate [Dermabond]), either singly or in combination with each other, or in combination with adhesive strips. Wound closure utilizing adhesive strips as the sole repair material should be coded using the appropriate E/M code."
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