Diabetic

“I documented a women’s size 10.5 shoe measurement in my Medicare note and then ordered the shoes from my diabetic shoe supplier. The supplier mailed me a pair of men’s 8.5 shoes since they are essentially the same size as a woman’s 10.5. In an audit, would Medicare have a problem with the size discrepancy, since I have to document that I dispensed a men’s 8.5 rather than the originally fitted women’s 10.5?”

“I had a patient call me worried about a possible diabetic foot infection. The patient has a history of below the knee amputation at the other limb and was panicked about the potential loss of limb. I worked them into the schedule that day and I am thinking about coding CPT 99058 in addition to the E/M code. Can I get paid for CPT 99058 and does it matter if the potential “infection” turned out to be not infected?”

“I think it is time for this topic to resurface. Being a coder/biller for a number of podiatrists around the U.S., I am finding that some are still scheduling “annual diabetic foot exams” as a routine on all of their diabetic patients. They are then performing a “full physical exam” and trying to bill an E/M. Sometimes this coincides with callus or nail treatment, at which time they want to add the 25 modifier. Of course, I am telling them that Medicare does not pay for an “annual diabetic foot exam” and that it is not a benefit and as such should be CASH. Has anything changed?”