I have a provider who keeps using CPT 12021 for packing a wound. My reading of the description tells me that this code is for wound dehiscence (for example, if sutures were removed & the wound split open, or an infection/abscess developed behind a surgical incision and kept it from healing). Can we bill that code for an abscess that already broke open on its own & was only cleaned out & packed? What about billing it when patient is brought back several times just to change the packing on a healing abscess that we did an I&D on last week? My contention has been that these should be rolled into an E&M code. I would appreciate feedback from coders with more experience.
Thank you!

J Beck, CPC