GOÄ no. 2009: Removal of a palpable foreign body under the skin

By Dr. Pascal Bafteh, board-certified dermatologist and internist · Updated 10/2026

Section L – Surgery, orthopaedics · Category: Wound care, biopsy, excision, flaps

Official German wording: „Entfernung eines unter der Oberfläche der Haut oder der Schleimhaut gelegenen fühlbaren Fremdkörpers“

100 points · €5.83 (1.0×) · €13.41 (2.3×, threshold) · €20.40 (3.5×, maximum)

Fees

Factor	Amount
1.0×	€5.83	single rate
2.3×	€13.41	threshold – above it a written justification (§ 12(3))
3.5×	€20.40	maximum

Personal medical service: range 1.0 to 3.5, threshold 2.3 (§ 5(2) GOÄ). A factor above the threshold is only allowed for particular circumstances of the individual case (difficulty, time, circumstances) and must be justified in writing.

Exclusions and rules

Nr. 2010 – The same foreign body only once – palpable under the skin (2009) or deep, surgical (2010).
Individual steps that are methodically necessary parts of the target service named in the description cannot be billed separately (section L, general provisions).

Typical occasions in dermatology

Removing a palpable foreign body from skin or mucosa, e.g. a wood or glass splinter.

More items in this category

2008 – Incision of a wound or fistula 2010 – Surgical removal of a deep foreign body 2007 – Removal of sutures or staples 2030 – Incision of a felon or paronychia 2006 – Treatment of a wound not healing primarily 2033 – Extraction of a finger- or toenail 2005 – Large and/or heavily contaminated wound with deb 2034 – Nail ablation with excision of the nail matrix

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Source: German fee schedule for physicians (GOÄ), schedule of fees – gesetze-im-internet.de.

Applies to private medical services under the GOÄ; not to statutory health insurance (EBM). New GOÄ: the German Medical Association considers entry into force on 1 January 2028 realistic. Official wording and points: gesetze-im-internet.de; amounts = points × €0.0582873 × factor (§ 5(1) GOÄ). Data checked: 12/10/2026.