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Wiki CPT Burn Care 2nd degree local?

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spstarke

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Hi all,

Wondering if folks have thoughts about which burn care to use when the provider treats a 2nd degree burn with only local treatment (i.e. silvadene applied).

16000 specifies in the CPT that it's for 1st degree; when only local treatment is required,
whereas 16020 specifies that the provider uses dressings and/or debridement, for 2nd degree.

What would you use if the PT got only local treatment (just silvadene oint. applied, no dressings or debr.) on a 2nd degree?

Thanks!

spstarke :)
 
2d degree burn

16020 lay description (from Encoder Pro):
The physician applies dressing material(s) and/or debrides a partial-thickness burn of blisters and nonviable or nonadherent tissue, initial or subsequent. The physician removes devitalized tissue or tissue that is contaminated by bacteria, foreign material, dead cells, or a crust. The wound is cleansed and a dressing is applied. Report 16020 for treatment of a small burn area, less than 5 percent of total body surface area; (emphasis added by FTB)

Since this is has the AND/OR clarification in the procedure description, you can use this even when debridement is not required.

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
 
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