The Latest in Reimbursement & Coding Information from the Blog
Separately Identifiable E/M Demystified
Does dispensing surgical dressings at the same encounter as an ulcer debridement count as an evaluation and management (E/M)? Short answer: Probably not. Longer answer: It depends. It depends on what was performed, documented, and medically necessary. You can submit an E/M at the same time as a debridement (or any procedure) if—and only if—an […]
Coding For A Debridement? Be Sure Your Diagnosis Code Makes Sense.
The surgical dressings available from AMERX Health Care are only covered by a patient’s insurance if they are being used for a surgical wound or a debrided wound. This debridement can be surgical, mechanical, chemical or autolytic. When performing a surgical debridement, both the CPT code selection and ICD-10 code selection are important. CPT Coding […]
Is Your Diagnosis Code Appropriate for the Dispensed Dressing?
Some surgical dressings only have coverage for full thickness ulcers. These include alginates, foams, and hydrogels. When dispensing a dressing that is only covered for full thickness ulcers, it is important to not only document the presence of a full thickness ulcer, but also submit a diagnosis code that reflects the presence of a full […]
Wound vs. Ulcer – Does It Matter?
While some physicians may interchange the terms “ulcer” and “wound” as if they are synonyms, when it comes to ICD-10, your choice of words DOES matter! What is the Difference between a Wound and an Ulcer? In ICD-10 language, a “wound” is something traumatic. An “ulcer” refers to a break in the skin that fails […]
One Ulcer, Two Dressings
Can You Bill For Two Different Dressings For The Same Ulcer? The answer is… YES! When can you dispense two dressings for the same ulcer? When a primary dressing, like collagen powder, is dispensed and requires a secondary dressing for securement, you can dispense both the primary and secondary dressings for the same ulcer—and bill […]