On June 29, The Department of Health and Human Services Cybersecurity Program released a news article on vulnerabilities in PACS Systems. PACS systems are Picture Archiving Communication Systems. These are commonly used for the storage and sharing of medical images such as radiographs, CT scans, and MRI images.
by David J. Freedman, DPM, FASPS, FACFAS CPC, CSFAC, CPMA
July 11, 2021
By mbrody
0 Comments
There was a very important question recently posted, “Since the global period for a toe amputation is now zero days, does that mean I bill for removing sutures in the office when I do a follow up visit in 14 days? Billing for this seems very uncomfortable to me.” As a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Surgical Foot and Ankle Coder (CSFAC) and as a Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA), I had to mostly disagree fundamentally with a colleague’s previously posted response.
“I performed a partial 1st ray amputation that included the hallux and part of the 1st metatarsal. The site did not heal, and a new infection developed at the amputation site. The result is a return to the operating room for a right trans-metatarsal amputation. For the subsequent surgery, I used Modifier 78. After all, this was an unplanned return to the operating room. I evaluated the patient post operatively and I am wondering which date should I be using for the 90-day global period?”