Forum - Questions & Answers

Feb 7th, 2014 - swalker216

Debridement VS Surgical Prep

I have a question-My Doctor says that when he puts a wound vac on I should be
using the 15002 code and not the 11043 debridement code.

Exampl OP Note

Diabetic foot ulcer was irrigated. The wound was surgically excised at the level of skin,subq soft tissue,and muscle using sharp scalpel,exec bovie, iris scissors and Versajet. This was excised down to punctate bleeding vialbe subq soft tissue. Hemostasis was achieved with a combo of elec. bovie and epinephrine-soaked sponges. A Vac dressing containing an irrigation cath was then created,secured and sealed. It was approx 74 sq cm.

I used 11043, 11046 and 97606.
Dr says I should have used 15004 and 97606 because in the definition section for
surgical prep it states " skin replacement surg describe the inital svc related to prepairing a clean and viable wound surface for placement of autograft,flap, skin
substitue graft or for NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY.

Could someone give me ideas on if this is correct and if not where can I find
something that I can show him so he will understand

Feb 7th, 2014 - Plumqik 4 

re: Debridement VS Surgical Prep

I believe your physician is correct as the codes you were using do not encompass the degree of debridment and excision of tissue and the depths he is doing. Code 15004 falls under the inclusion statement in the 2013 CPT® Code Book of "Cleaning and preparing a viable wound surface for grafting or negative pressure wound therapy used to heal the wound primarily." Code 15004 covers the area treated (foot) and sizeof defect (first 100 sq cm . . )



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