ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: My ED physician performed a complex repair of a lacerated left ring finger. After performing a level-three E/M, the physician documented that there were two lacerations. One was a 6 cm cut with partial-thickness skin loss and a severed digital artery. The other was a 10 cm V-shaped laceration on the left index finger extending down to the tendon sheath with partial-thickness skin loss. The physician spent more than an hour repairing these two lacerations. My thought was to use 13132 with +13133. How do I code both lacerations? Also, what modifier I should use? Michigan Subscriber Answer: Your description indicates that the physician performed two complex repairs in the same anatomical location. Once you are absolutely sure that is true, report the following: • 13132 (Repair, complex, forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands and/or feet; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm) for the first 7.5 cm of repair [...]