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Topic Title: Removal of foreign body without incision
Topic Summary: foreign body removal
Created On: 07/11/2008 10:15 AM
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07/11/2008 10:15 AM
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josie

Posts: 2
Joined: 07/11/2008

A patient comes into the emergency room with a foreign body in his arm (fish hook). The ER physican does not make an incision. He simply removes the foreign body. We have been advised to use CPT code 24200. We disagree, feeling the removal should be part of the E/M level. Please give us your thoughts.
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07/15/2008 07:19 AM
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dawson.ballard@cwwemail.com

Posts: 27
Joined: 01/28/2008

Per CPT Guidelines, if a foreign body is removed without an incision, it is included in the E/M service. You would only use the codes for foreign body removal if an incision was made. Hope this helps.

PS-I also replied to this question on the CPT forum.

Dawson Ballard, CPC
Coding Auditor
Take Care Health Systems

Edited: 07/15/2008 at 07:20 AM by dawson.ballard@cwwemail.com
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07/21/2010 10:21 AM
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alebron55@aol.com

Posts: 2
Joined: 07/21/2010

I agree with Dawson only the incision removal of a FB should be coded . I do emergency coding for about 4 yrs now and since we're by the water we have this happen all the time it just bumps up the level on the e/m
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