Wiki Billing E&M and Sutures in ED

[Barbara A. Love]

I am doing a audit in ED. When a patient comes to ED with a "clear" laceration to the forearm, can you bill an E&M to evaluate the laceration and then suture the patient.

I know it is clearer if the patient comes in with a head lac and they also evaluate the patient for a "head injury", you can bill both.

But what about your standard finger lacerations and foot lacerations. Is an E&M appropriate?

 

[racheleporterwilliams]

yes the E&M is necessary...I code ED all day long and never have I come across an encounter without evaluation and management.

I am doing a audit in ED. When a patient comes to ED with a "clear" laceration to the forearm, can you bill an E&M to evaluate the laceration and then suture the patient.

I know it is clearer if the patient comes in with a head lac and they also evaluate the patient for a "head injury", you can bill both.

But what about your standard finger lacerations and foot lacerations. Is an E&M appropriate?

 

[Barbara A. Love]

Thank you very much for your response. I thought so..but still was in doubt.