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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Question:

Treat Foot FBRs Differently Than Soft-Tissue FBRs

Published on Sun Mar 25, 2007

Question: Our physician performed simple foreign body removal (FBR) on a patient with a wood splinter in her right foot. We reported 10120 and received a denial. Should I appeal, or did I code improperly?


Minnesota Subscriber
 

Answer: The denial was correct; you chose the wrong code for foot FBRs.
 

Why? You should not code foot FBRs the same as FBRs from other parts of the body. Code 10120 (Incision and removal of foreign body, subcutaneous tissues; simple) is for soft-tissue FBRs, but CPT does not consider the foot soft tissue.
 
When your physician removes a foreign body from a patient's foot, choose from these codes:

- 28190 -- Removal of foreign body, foot; subcutaneous

- 28192 -- ... deep

- 28193 -- ... complicated.


So on your claim, you should have reported 28190 for the foot FBR.
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