Hardware

“I have an unusual situation that I am trying to figure out how to code. I had a patient return to the office in the global period after I preformed a 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthrodesis. Although, the alignment of the fusion looks good, one of the non-locking screws advanced out of the bone and plate and started to tent the skin at the incision site at three weeks post operative. She is neuropathic and denied any trauma to the area. I removed the screw in the office with local anesthesia. Can I bill for unplanned screw removal in the office?”

Many cybersecurity events and breaches are the result of us failing to keep our computers and computer programs up to date. The process of keeping our systems up to date is known as PATCHING.

With the increase of cloud-based software and work from home movement, it is time to start addressing cybersecurity threats we face outside the workplace. The first step is making sure that the hardware you are using to access the office network or cloud-based systems are secure.

“We are having difficulty with a denial when combining CPT 28320 and CPT 20680. CPT 20680 is being rejected as unbundling. According to CCI edits, CPT 28320 is a Column 1 code and CPT 20680 is a Column 2 code and they are allowed. The surgeon removed hardware from a prior surgery performed by a different surgeon not associated with the practice then repaired a non-union and applied new fixation. Is the removal of prior hardware actually included in CPT code 28320? If not, what modifier should be used if it is the same incision/surgical site as the non-union repair?”