Dr. Lehrman is in private practice in Fort Collins, CO and operates Lehrman Consulting, LLC. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, and is recognized as a “Master” by the American Professional Wound Care Association. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management and an Expert Panelist on Codingline. In his role as a Consultant to the APMA Health Policy and Practice Department, Dr. Lehrman serves as an advisor to the APMA Coding Committee and the APMA MACRA Task Force. Dr. Lehrman sits on the board of directors of both the American Professional Wound Care Association and the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. He is also on the editorial advisory board of the journal WOUNDS.
Surgical dressings can be used for all types of qualifying ulcers. This includes arterial ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers. It is important to use the correct diagnosis codes for each of these ulcer types. Diabetic foot ulcer codes should start with L97-. Stasis ulcer codes begin with I83-. L89- codes are […]
When dispensing surgical dressings, it is important to differentiate between primary and secondary dressings and to use them in conjunction when indicated. PRIMARY DRESSINGS Primary dressings are therapeutic or protective and can be applied directly to ulcers. SECONDARY DRESSINGS Secondary dressings are needed to secure and/or aid in the function of a primary dressing. A […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require that DME suppliers maintain proof that any item dispensed was received by the beneficiary in the form of a Proof of Delivery document. This document must be maintained for at least seven years. This could be requested by DMEMACs, recovery auditors, supplemental medical review contractors, or […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that DME suppliers maintain proof that any item dispensed was received by the beneficiary in the form of a Proof of Delivery document. This could be requested by DMEMACs, recovery auditors, supplemental medical review contractors, or Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) medical review contractors. In our […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that DME suppliers maintain proof that any item dispensed was received by the beneficiary in the form of a Proof of Delivery document. It may be requested by DMEMACs, recovery auditors, supplemental medical review contractors, or Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) medical review contractors. In last […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that DME suppliers maintain proof that any item dispensed was received by the beneficiary in the form of a Proof of Delivery document. This proof may be needed to substantiate payment. It may be requested by DMEMACs, recovery auditors, supplemental medical review contractors, or Comprehensive Error […]
If a patient has bilateral ulcers that both qualify for surgical dressings, you can supply dressings for both ulcers at the same encounter. When doing so, it is important to indicate that two ulcers are being treated by listing modifier “A2” in box 24d of the CMS-1500 form (Health Insurance Claim Form). Appropriate modifier use […]
Among the requirements that must be satisfied when dispensing surgical dressings and compression garments is a face-to-face (FTF) examination. This FTF exam must take place within six months of the time the order is written for the surgical dressing(s) or compression garment. It is acceptable if the FTF exam takes place on the same day […]
Compression is an essential component of both healing and preventing venous leg ulcers. Not only do compression garments, such as the EXTREMIT-EASE® Compression Garment, help to treat difficult lower leg ulcers, they can also be stocked in your office and dispensed to patients as a DME item, providing your patients with excellent care and providing […]
One of the most important steps to ensure clean billing of surgical dressings is the appropriate use of the A- modifier. The A- modifier must be used to indicate two things: Is the dressing billed for a primary or secondary dressing? How many wounds are being treated with the dispensed dressing? An important differentiation is […]