Learn How to Report an Eyelid Laceration Repair
Question: I have a report documenting the repair of a upper right eyelid laceration as well as a cannulization and stent placement for repair of a canalicular laceration. The surgeon described the eyelid laceration as “penetrating completely through the eyelid.” What are the correct procedure codes to report? California Subscriber Answer: Start by assigning 67935 (Suture of recent wound, eyelid, involving lid margin, tarsus, and/or palpebral conjunctiva direct closure; full thickness) appended with modifier E3 (Upper right, eyelid) to report the upper right eyelid laceration repair. The code is designated for a repair of a cut that went through the eyelid. This wound could involve the skin edges, membrane lining, or inner plate. Modifier E3 tells the payer that the surgeon performed the procedure on the upper right eyelid. Note: If the provider performed a partial-thickness eyelid laceration repair, you’d report 67930 (… partial thickness) Next, use 68700 (Plastic repair of canaliculi) and 68815 (Probing of nasolacrimal duct, with or without irrigation; with insertion of tube or stent) to report the cannulization and stent placement. You can report these services separately because they are not bundled by the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits. Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC
