General Surgery Coding Alert
Reader Question ~ Sutures Bundle Dermabond
The surgeon cleans the 2.7-cm wound on the patient's arm and makes a layered closure using sutures and Dermabond. The surgeon then performs a problem-focused history and examination on the patient to address his headaches. Can I report the Dermabond repair code in this scenario?
Missouri Subscriber
Answer: You should not include the Medicare code for Dermabond repair (G0168, Wound closure utilizing tissue adhesive[s] only). If your surgeon uses sutures or staples and Dermabond to close a laceration, you can report only the layered laceration repair code, and you should not report G0168.
On your claim, you should report the following:
- 12032 (Layer closure of wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities [excluding hands and feet]; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm]) for the laceration repair
- 913.0 (Superficial injury of elbow, forearm and wrist; abrasion or friction burn without mention of infection) to represent the patient's arm injury
- E880.9 (Fall on or from other stairs or steps) to indicate the cause of the patient's arm injury
- 99212 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, which requires at least two of these three key components: a problem-focused history; a problem-focused examination; straightforward medical decision-making) for the E/M service
- modifier 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service) appended to 99212 to show that the E/M service and the repair were separate
- 784.0 (Headache) to represent the patient's headache
- E880.9 to verify the cause of the patient's headache.
Although E codes aren't required for Medicare patients, they provide supporting information and more completely describe the reason for the service.
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