Dermatology Coding Alert

There's more to the procedures than dressing, debridement -- sometimes almost $900 more.

If you're reporting 16000-16036 codes, you might be forfeiting pay -- nearly $900 -- for separately reimbursable procedures, because procedures such as skin grafts are not included in these codes. Our coding experts offer these three tips for improving your burn treatment reimbursement.

Tip 1: Size Determines Anesthesia Code Choice

If the doctor only debrides a burn, you should select an initial treatment code from the 16000-16030 series.

Here's why: Select 16000 (Initial treatment, first-degree burn, when no more than local treatment is required) when the physician tends to a first-degree burn only (burns [...]

- Published on 2011-08-12