Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Question: I am trying to bill for the removal of sutures the ophthalmologist placed during a trabeculectomy. My initial billing was a 66170. What code and what modifier should I use? The revision is taking place within 30 days of the initial surgery by the same physician.Florida SubscriberAnswer: Sometimes, during a trabeculectomy, an ophthalmologist places a suture with the intention of cutting it during the postoperative period if the flow of fluid out of the eye is too restricted by the sutures. Unfortunately, if you're reporting this service to Medicare, you won't see payment because it falls under Medicare's global surgical package guidelines. You should not report suture removal to affect the flow following the trabeculectomy procedure to Medicare. Explanation: The Medicare Claims Processing Manual states that the global package includes miscellaneous services -- items such as dressing changes, local incisional care, removal of operative pack, removal of cutaneous sutures, lines, wires, tubes, [...]