APR 19, 2016
CPT Code for suture removal
Question: I saw a patient today on an urgent basis with complaints of redness, discharge and pain. Exam revealed a broken suture in the conjunctiva, which I removed. The patient had undergone muscle surgery by another surgeon two weeks ago. Can I bill the suture removal, or just the exam?
Answer: Suture removal is never separately billable. Even though you were not the surgeon, suture removal is still included in the exam. If you had been the surgeon, it would have been considered postoperative care.