Charging Office visit at same time of wound repair...

Coder-To-Coder Forum

Charging Office visit at same time of wound repair...

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Ralph heath 07-03-2008, 6:23 AM
I was curious to know if it is legal to charge an office visit with a wound repair when the only diagnosis is for the wound repair.

Please share your comments....

Re: Charging Office visit at same time of wound repair...

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Leslie 07-07-2008, 7:51 PM
It will depend on how the physician has documented the case.

YES, it's possible, that you can charge an office visit and still do a procedure. No need to use different Dx codes, either.

How you decide is this: did the OV lead to the procedure?

In other words, did the MD know that the patient was going to come in with a gash that needed repair?

If the answer to that is: "the doctor did not know that the patient was going to need a repair; he examined the patient & decided then & there to do some sutures" chances are very good that you may charge the E/M and the repair.

Leslie Johnson, CPC
http://www.askleslie.net