ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Evidence of debridement often leads to intermediate fix code.The ability to tell the difference between an intermediate laceration repair and a simple one is vital for the coder that wants to recoup all earned reimbursement for these claims. Why? Laceration repairs are common in the ED, comments John Bishop, PA-C, CPC, MS, CWS, president of Tampa, Fla.-based Bishop and Associates. Further, intermediate laceration repair codes pay at a higher rate than simple ones.For example, let's say your ED physician repairs a 5.2-cm scalp laceration. You decide to report 12002 (Simple repair of superficial wound s of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk, and/or extremities [including hands and feet]; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm) for the encounter, but the notes would have supported an intermediate code (12032, Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities [excluding hands and feet]; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm).Breakdown: Code 12002 pays out at about [...]