CPT Codes

“What code would you recommend for the excision of a pressure ulcer? Here is an excerpt from the operative report: “Attention was directed to the left plantar medical foot at the level of the arch where an approximately 3 cm round chronic ulceration with underlying bursa formation was noted. At this time, an elliptical incision was made in a 3:1 fashion running in line with the foot from toe to heel. This incision was deepened through subcutaneous tissues with care being taken to identify and retract all vital neurovascular structures. At this time, dissection scissors were utilized in order to remove the chronic ulceration with underlying bursa. The skin margins were then separated in order to free up and allow for skin closure.”

“I had a patient present to the clinic with multiple, minimally displaced toe fractures. She has Medicare and we are planning to treat all four of these conservatively. When and how do I use CPT code 28510?”

“I have several healthy Medicare patients that have painful calluses. These patients come to my office, sometimes monthly complaining of painful callouses. I understand that Medicare does not cover the routine trimming of calluses in healthy patients. However, I have been billing CPT 99212-13 with the diagnosis codes of L84 (corns and callous), M77.4X (metatarsalgia). The documented management plan for L84 is discussion of moisturizing the feet, not waking barefoot, etc. and then I debride the callus. The documented management plan for metatarsalgia is discussion of metatarsalgia and surgical options, and then I place felt padding in the shoe, or modify the shoe to take pressure off the callus. My patients rarely follow my advice for moisturizing and not going barefoot; so ultimately, the calluses come back. Is this appropriate billing? The treatment I provide is instrumental in preventing a wound or ulceration from occurring (which I also document). Also, it relieves the patient of pain. Is it appropriate to bill an E/M code in lieu of a procedure code if the procedure is not covered?”

“I am having trouble finding an appropriate code to bill for a procedure to remove tophaceous material at a toe. The location was the left 2nd toe. This was performed in the office and a digital block was utilized to obtain anesthesia at the toe. Using a 3mm dermal curette, approximately 1 mL of tophaceous material was removed and a sterile gauze dressing applied. I planned to use ICD-10 M1A-0721. What CPT would be appropriate in this situation?”

“On February 11, a patient has a transmetatarsal amputation. The patient is a non-compliant, diabetic. The site deteriorates weeks after he leaves the hospital. On March 24, he was readmitted for an infected at the amputation site. On March 26, the remaining 5 metatarsals stumps are removed, and the wound is kept open. How would you recommend coding for the 2nd surgery? What is the code for removing the 5 remaining metatarsal stumps?”

"An in-patient consultation was done and later on the same day an in-patient surgical procedure was performed. Medicare has paid for the consultation code but has denied payment for the procedure stating that “a CPT or a CPT/modifier combo is not compatible with another procedure or CPT/modifier combo provided on the same day according to the CCI.” The codes used were CPT 99222 and CPT 28820 (T6). Any suggestions?”

“I have great difficulty getting paid for CPT 28308 when a hammer toe repair is performed at the same time. The billing scenario generally will look like this: CPT 28308 (2nd metatarsal osteotomy) -RT CPT 28285 (2nd hammertoe repair) -T1 -59 We never get paid for CPT 28308 in this scenario. Does anyone have any suggestions? We link the acquired deformity of bone diagnosis to CPT 28308.”

“We have had more than one claim where Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma is paying for CPT 28122 but denying CPT 28306, despite the use of the 59 modifier. Our question is why wouldn’t CPT 28306 be allowed instead of CPT 28122 as it is far more work? We are trying to determine how to appeal this.”

“I am curious when and how to bill G0127 or G0247 instead of CPT code 11721 when performing Routine Foot Care.”

“I recently saw a new patient with Oxford insurance for a tinea problem. A prescription was given and options for additional treatments were discussed. We billed his insurance for an initial office visit. The visit was allowed by insurance and the payment was applied to his deductible. He was billed by us. He checked with Oxford and is now telling us that “preventive” care is not subject to the deductible and would like me to resubmit to Oxford telling them that the visit was for “preventive” care. My opinion is that “preventive” care does not really apply to a specialist and that I could not undo what I already submitted. Can we bill for “preventive” care and, if so, is it possible to resubmit the claim?”