Encounter for removal of sutures 1 Z48.02 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. 2 The 2020 edition of ICD-10-CM Z48.02 became effective on October 1, 2019. 3 This is the American ICD-10-CM version of Z48.02 - other international versions of ICD-10 Z48.02 may differ.
Suture removal is a part of a series of procedures under one diagnosis or one health case. However, there are some cases that suture removal is reimbursed separately.
If a patient comes for postoperative treatment such as Suture Removal during Global Period of a set of procedures (usually 10 days for minor surgical procedures such as laceration repairs, and 90 days for major surgical procedures), code the visit using CPT Code 99024, and there will be no problem. CPT Code for Suture Removal after Global Period
Diagnosis Index entries containing back-references to Z48.02: Admission (for) - see also Encounter (for) removal of staples Z48.02 Aftercare Z51.89 - see also Care ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z51.89 Attention (to) sutures Z48.02 Removal (from) (of) staples Z48.02 Suture removal Z48.02
ICD-10 Code for Other specified postprocedural states- Z98. 89- Codify by AAPC. Factors influencing health status and contact with health services. Persons with potential health hazards related to family and personal history and certain conditions influencing health status.
ICD-10 code Z48. 02 for Encounter for removal of sutures is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Factors influencing health status and contact with health services .
The patient's primary diagnostic code is the most important. Assuming the patient's primary diagnostic code is Z48. 02, look in the list below to see which MDC's "Assignment of Diagnosis Codes" is first. That is the MDC that the patient will be grouped into.
ICD-10-CM Code for Vasectomy status Z98. 52.
Other mechanical complication of permanent sutures, initial encounter. T85. 692A is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM T85.
A nurse performs a suture removal on a patient whose sutures were placed at a different practice. Code 99211 could be reported for this service, since it describes the service better than any other CPT code (there is no specific CPT code for suture removal).
Use Z codes to code for surgical aftercare. Z47. 89, Encounter for other orthopedic aftercare, and. Z47. 1, Aftercare following joint replacement surgery.
Follow-up suture removal is included in the laceration repair fee, but can be billed if the repair was performed elsewhere, such as in the emergency department.
Encounter for attention to dressings, sutures and drains ICD-10-CM Z48.
VasectomyVasectomy CPT Code 55250 describes the surgical procedure for male sterilisation, also called permanent contraception. CPT code 55250 is also designated as 'vasectomy' and is intended for protection against pregnancy permanently.
A vasectomy reversal (vasovasostomy) is a surgical procedure that reverses the results of a vasectomy. A vasectomy is an operation in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) to prevent pregnancy. It involves blocking the tubes (vas deferens) through which your sperm cells pass into your semen.
ICD-10 code Z30. 2 for Encounter for sterilization is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Factors influencing health status and contact with health services .
For example, if a patient with severe degenerative osteoarthritis of the hip, underwent hip replacement and the current encounter/admission is for rehabilitation, report code Z47. 1, Aftercare following joint replacement surgery, as the first-listed or principal diagnosis.
If the patient must be placed under general anesthesia to remove the sutures, you may report 15850 Removal of sutures under anesthesia (other than local), same surgeon or 15851 Removal of sutures under anesthesia (other than local), other surgeon.
Among Medicare FFS beneficiaries in 2019, Z codes were billed most often on Medicare Part B Non-institutional claims.
Aftercare visit codes are assigned in situations in which the initial treatment of a disease has been performed but the patient requires continued care during the healing or recovery phase, or for the long-term consequences of the disease.
If a patient comes for postoperative treatment such as Suture Removal during Global Period of a set of procedures (usually 10 days for minor surgical procedures such as laceration repairs, and 90 days for major surgical procedures), code the visit using CPT Code 99024 , and there will be no problem.
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) Codes are codes about diseases, health services, and procedures created by AMA (American Medical Association). On the other hand, ICD (International Classification of Diseases) Codes are also codes about diseases, health services, and procedures, but they are created by WHO (World Health Organization).
The code cannot be billed for doctor service. Also, to bill 99211, a provider should present (even if the person is only in the office and not seeing the patient) when the nurse or the medical assistant performs the service that may be a wound check, a dressing change, or suture removal.
Suture removal is usually a post-operative procedure. Suture removal is a part of a series of procedures under one diagnosis or one health case. However, there are some cases that suture removal is reimbursed separately. CPT Code for Suture Removal can be quite confusing for the health administration staff, the physician, the patient, ...
Your CPT® codebook is the definitive source, providing full definitions for each type of repair:#N#“ Simple repair is used when the wound is superficial; eg, involving primarily epidermis or dermis, or subcutaneous tissues without significant involvement of deeper structures, and requires simple one layer closure.”#N#Simple repairs are—as the name indicates—fairly straightforward, and require only single-layer closure of the affected area. Such repairs involve only the skin; deeper layers of tissue are unaffected. By contrast:#N#“ Intermediate repair … require [s] one layered closure of one or more of the deeper layers of subcutaneous tissue and superficial (non-muscle) fascia in addition to the skin (epidermal and dermal) closure.”#N#In other words, wounds requiring intermediate repairs are deeper than those requiring simple repair. Per CPT®, some single-layer closures may qualify as complex repairs, if the wound is “heavily contaminated” and requires “extensive cleaning or removal of particulate matter.”#N#When searching documentation for clues as to the complexity of repair, statements such as “layered closure,” “involving subcutaneous tissue,” and/or “removal of debris,” “extensive cleansing,” etc., point to an intermediate repair. Lack of these details, or a statement of “single layer closure,” suggests a simple repair.#N#Complex repairs involve wounds that are deeper and more dramatic, which may require debridement or significant revision:#N#“ Complex repair … require [s] more than layered closure, viz., scar revision, debridement (eg, traumatic lacerations or avulsions), extensive undermining, stents, or retention sutures. Necessary preparation includes creation of a limited defect for repairs or the debridement of complicated lacerations or avulsions.”#N#An operative note detailing such an extensive, reconstructive repair should be easily distinguished from other repair types, due to the need for procedures well beyond cleansing and suturing at one or more levels.
Detailed physician documentation is critical to determine the complexity and size of the repair (s). Lackluster notes can dramatically affect both coding precision and the physician’s bottom line, as the payment difference between the various repair types is significant. For example, for a small (2.0 cm) chest wound:
Wound repair does not include excision of benign (11400-11446) or malignant (11600-11646) lesions, but lesion excision may include would repair. Per CPT ®, simple repairs are always included in lesion excision, but “Repair by intermediate or complex closure should be reported separately.”.
Some of these related procedures may not be separately reported; others may be separately reported, or separately reported only in specific circumstances. Here’s a quick rundown, based on CPT ® and the Medicare guidelines.
John Verhovshek. John Verhovshek, MA, CPC, is a contributing editor at AAPC. He has been covering medical coding and billing, healthcare policy, and the business of medicine since 1999. He is an alumnus of York College of Pennsylvania and Clemson University.
In other words, wounds requiring intermediate repairs are deeper than those requiring simple repair. Per CPT®, some single-layer closures may qualify as complex repairs, if the wound is “heavily contaminated” and requires “extensive cleaning or removal of particulate matter.”.
Possible exceptions include: If the patient must be placed under general anesthesia to remove the sutures, you may report 15850 Removal of sutures under anesthesia (other than local), same surgeon or 15851 Removal of sutures under anesthesia (other than local), other surgeon.
Circumstances under which generally anesthesia would be medically necessary or appropriate for suture removal are rare. If your payer allows, report S0630 Removal of sutures by a physician other than the physician who originally closed the wound, as long as a different physician than the one who placed the sutures removes them.
If the same physician who placed the sutures removes them during the original procedure’s global period, you cannot report the removal separately.
John Verhovshek, MA, CPC, is a contributing editor at AAPC. He has been covering medical coding and billing, healthcare policy, and the business of medicine since 1999. He is an alumnus of York College of Pennsylvania and Clemson University.