General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: A patient came to have sutures removed from a superficial 1-cm laceration on his right arm. Our nurse removed the sutures, but we did not repair the wound; an emergency-room physician made the repair seven days earlier. Can I report the removal, or is it covered in the global package?

Missouri Subscriber

Answer: Since your physician did not perform the repair, the 10-day global period does not apply. You should report 99211 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, that may not require the presence of a physician) for the suture removal.

If your physician performs the initial repair, report only 12001 (Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities [including hands and feet]; 2.5 cm or less). The 10-day global period covers suture removal for the procedure if the same doctor performs the repair and the removal.