Wiki hardware removal

[maryawinfield04]

my hand specialists performed a open treatment of radial shaft fracture (25515) and a wrist darrach (25240) on a patient in January, the Dr. went back in March to remove the hardware,should the removal have been billed?

thanks

 

[Laxwido]

Yes, this is a billable service. If it was a planned service, look at 20670/20680 with the -58 modifier. If this was NOT planned (ie, the hardware is broken) I would use the -78 modifier.

 

[maryawinfield04]

Yes, this is a billable service. If it was a planned service, look at 20670/20680 with the -58 modifier. If this was NOT planned (ie, the hardware is broken) I would use the -78 modifier.

yes, I used 20680 which is a planned procedure.

thank you

 

[joanne71178]

20680 is the correct code and -58 if it was in fact planned -78 if it was not