Coding

“After watching some E/M presentations, it was suggested that hospital consultations should be billed with CPT 99252-CPT 99255. When we billed these codes, our EMR system and our clearing house rejected the codes. They are saying effective 1/1/2010, CMS has announced that they will reject codes. Are we billing the right codes?”

“I do some part time work in a wound care center. I frequently use CPT 97597 for coding. My biller is telling me not to bill CPT 97597 because it reimburses around $25 or less in a wound care center. However, the facility likes and even encourages me to use CPT 97597. If I do a selective debridement, can I bill CPT 99213 or CPT 99212 instead of CPT 97597?  I know that I should not bill CPT 99213-Modifier 25 if there isn’t a separate complaint. Am I required to bill 97597? Is this a scenario that I should be considering CPT 11042?”

By Dr. Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CPC

“I’m in an ongoing debate with my biller. I have always been under the impression that when billing for infected, ingrown nails that local anesthetics were considered part of the procedure. My biller thinks I can charge for them. What is correct?"

“I have a patient with a longitudinal striation of her toenail, and we are going to biopsy the nail bed. What ICD-10 do code would you consider for the diagnosis for the biopsy? What is the CPT procedure code for the nail matrix?”

“I was consulted on a patient in hospital with a large 5th metatarsophalangeal joint ulceration. There was osteomyelitis of the proximal phalanx and metatarsal head. I performed the resection and subsequently performed a delayed closure several days later. The closure left an area open due to soft tissue deficit. This necessitated post operative wound care. I initially billed CPT 28810 and then subsequently CPT 13160. I billed CPT 11042 weekly post operatively, until the wound healed. The private insurance states that all the CPT 11042 billings are considered part of the global. Is there a modifier for submitting related charges for necessary services?”

“My documentation for qualified, routine foot care is similar for most patients as little changes in 3 months. But, yes, I do look for changes and make the note reflect such. And I try to make sure notes are not exact copies of previous notes. My notes have plenty of bullet points for an E/M code on each visit. I am primarily charging procedure codes only (CPT 11056, CPT 11721, etc). Can I still bill at least one E/M code per year even when there are no substantive changes as I continually monitor vascular, neurologic and dermal changes each visit? Must I have a new or different diagnosis to bill an E/M code?”

“I know things have changed a little for removal of retained hardware and I am seeking clarification for a scenario. A patient has previously had an Austin Akin bunionectomy. It healed uneventfully. Years later, she has developed pain at the retained screw in the metatarsal. There is a k-wire noted in the proximal phalanx. X-rays showed complete healing at the osteotomies. The patient would like to have both implants removed despite only one of them hurting today. How would the changes in CPT coding apply to this situation? Thank you for the help.”

“So, to be clear you can never use L3000kx for a diabetic with neuropathy and diabetic ulcers even if secondary will pay.”

“I have a patient who had a chevron bunionectomy performed 10 years ago. The bunion has returned, and the head is facing lateral. My plan is to perform a Lapidus procedure to reduce the first intermetatarsal angle and a rotational 1st metatarsal head osteotomy to align the articular surface (basically an Austin with a medial based wedge removed from the dorsal osteotomy to rotate the head slightly medial). How would you recommend I code this (ICD-10 and CPT codes)? Can I use CPT 29297 and CPT 29296? I’ve also considered CPT 28740 with CPT 29296.“