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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

READER QUESTION:

There's No Separate Charge for Suture Removal

Published on Sat Oct 09, 2004

Question: During a follow-up visit at the office, the surgeon removed several sutures from the patient's back. Can we charge separately for the suture removal?

Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: You can't charge for suture removal.

If your surgeon placed the sutures in the first place, suture removal is included as a part of the global package of the primary procedure.

If your surgeon did not place the sutures, you may consider the removal as a component of any E/M service the surgeon provides on the same date. In such a case, you should use ICD-9 code V58.3 (Attention to surgical dressings and sutures) as a secondary diagnosis.  
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