“Based on your experience with the new E/M guidelines, is it possible and appropriate for a podiatrist to bill a level 4 or 5 if the documentation is supported? These higher levels have always been taboo (especially level 5). Some patients are at a higher risk with diabetes, chronic non-healing ulcers and wounds etc. Some patients need amputations. Based on the documentation, I believe achieving these higher levels is possible.”
“I often provide wound care for hospice patients and append the GW modifier. However, I recently read that it would be hard to defend this as the wound(s) and wound process is likely related to the patient being deconditioned and malnourished due to their hospice qualifying condition. I am looking for clarification regarding this, should I stop performing wound care services to hospice patients?”
It is important to realize that many of the devices in your office may contain patient information, even after you are no longer using the devices.
Information can be stored in hard drives and memory that is on circuit boards and if the information finds it way into the wrong hands you have a HIPAA Violation.
