Medical Billing Dilemma : Reporting Incision

Medical Billing Dilemma : Reporting Incision

A common medical billing question is: When is appropriate to use an incision code. This question comes up many times when the removal of foreign bodies occur. In only certain instances would you report an incision code in medical billing.

When removing a foreign body, if the physician makes an actual incision to remove the object, then the proper incision medical billing code should be used. The two main incision codes are 10120 (Incision and removal of foreign body, subcutaneous tissues; simple) and 10121 ( Incision and removal of foreign body, subcutaneous tissues; complicated.) This seems fairly simple, however, there are certain medical billing qualifications incisions must meet.

If a needle is inserted into a would to remove a foreign body, it must go in far enough to be considered an incision in medical billing. For instance, an 18-gauge needle insertion would be sufficient for an incision code. If an incision is not made, or if the foreign body is not deep enough, other current procedural terminology codes should be used for medical billing.

Proper medical billing depends on many factors. Accuracy of patient records has a large effect on correct medical billing. Not only do your billing staff need to be educated in proper procedure, but physicians and nurses must fully document visits and procedures. No one has ever been penalized for too much documentation. The more documentation, the better picture a medical billing personnel member has of the encounter.

If your practice would prefer not to spend time on medical billing procedures, let an outside medical billing firm handle those responsibilities. If your staff are not tied up with mind-numbing billing responsibilities, they will have more time to spend working one-on-one with patients. Medical billing firms can bring your practice back to what matters most, the patients.

View all Articles by: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO