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Pediatric Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Suture Removal

Published on Fri Dec 28, 2012

Question: Should we charge for removing sutures? What if they were placed in the emergency department? Wyoming Subscriber Answer: If you placed the sutures, you cannot be paid for removing them; the fee for removal is included in the laceration repair codes. If sutures were placed in the emergency department (ED), you can be paid for removal with a low-level E/M services code (99201-99202 for a new patient, 99211-99212 for an established patient). Use V58.3 (Attention to surgical dressings and sutures) if no other problems exist. A higher-level E/M could be billed, with additional diagnoses, if there are complications such as an infection.  
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