Wiki fish hook in earlobe

[akaeb]

A pt came in with a fish hook in his earlobe can we bill for the removal of this? I checked with the provider how she removed it, she said that she had to push the hook through in order to make an exit site for the hook so that she could cut the end off. I know that I have read that unless there is an incision made you cannot bill for the removal of something from the earlobe. Thoughts on this?

 

[CodingKing]

E&M unless incision is made. Typically barb is cut off and pulled through same hole the fish hook created without incision.