Cpt 2011 Changes Affecting Your Podiatry Coding

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This year, CPT introduced over 200 new codes to help you code more accurately. The changes have affected several practices and your podiatry practice is no exception. For this practice, the big change focuses on two new codes to report diabetic foot ulcer treatment involving tissue cultured skin substitutes to the lower extremity.


Also, you will use various G codes while reporting diabetic foot ulcer treatment involving tissue cultured skin substitutes to the lower extremity for a Medicare beneficiary this year.


This time CPT introduces G0440 and G0441 which will put an end to the confusion providers put forth the different global periods for two tissue cultured skin substitute codes.


This year, for your ultrasound coding, you will not use 76880 as this code has made way to two new codes - 76881 and 76882.


A complete procedure (76881) includes real time scans of a specific joint that includes examination of the muscles, tendons, joint, other soft-tissue structures, and any identifiable abnormality. A limited study (76882) involves examining the extremity ...
... where a specific anatomic structure such as a tendon or muscle is assessed.


Bear in mind that when the podiatrist carries out spectral and color Doppler evaluation of the extremities, you should use the proper code with 76881 or 76882. In the meantime, CPT has also revised and revalued codes for noninvasive physiologic studies of the upper or lower extremity arteries: 93922, 93923, 93923, 93924.


And if you were confused about choosing between a debridement code and an active wound code, this year’s CPT saves the day by revising debridement code guidelines.


For further details on CPT 2011 and how the changes are affecting your podiatry coding, sign up for a good medical coding resource like Coding Institute.