Bilateral Injuries

If a patient comes in for an office visit (99212) with 1st and 2nd degree burns on both arms and the abdominal wall, will this need a 50 modifier?

Oct 22nd, 2012 - Sha12 62

re: Bilateral Injuries

If the pt came in & the doctor checked the burns, you only need to bill for an E/M code and doc specify the affected body parts that was burned. You don't need modifier unless he did some procedures on that day.

Oct 22nd, 2012 -

re: Bilateral Injuries

Thank you.

Oct 22nd, 2012 - Codapedia Editor 1,399

re: Bilateral Injuries

A few resources about bilateral modifier 50 are below.

But, always check the CPT® description of the modifier, which will tell you if it can be applied to an E/M code, or a procedure or other service. And modifiers are applied to the CPT/HCPCS code without relation to the ICD-9 code.

http://codapedia.com/article_276_How-do-I-tell-if-a-code-is-defined-as-unilateral-or-bilateral.cfm

http://codapedia.com/article_199_How-do-you-report-bilateral-procedures-One-line-or-two.cfm

Oct 23rd, 2012 - Charlene 50

re: Bilateral Injuries

Are you using the burn codes with the 99212? If so, use a modifier-25 on the 99212 and include your burn codes.

http://charleneburgett.wordpress.com/tag/burns/

Charlene Endre-Burgett, MS, CMA (AAMA), CPC, CMSCS
Administrator, North Scottsdale Family Medicine
Blog: www.charleneburgett.wordpress.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charleneburgett