AMERX Wound Care Kits
Dispensing AMERX Wound Care Kits allows providers to dispense both a primary dressing and a secondary dressing at the same time. This is excellent care because this allows the patient to have both what is needed directly on the wound bed, the primary dressing, and what is needed to secure that primary dressing. By dispensing both at the same time, the patient does not need to find a secondary dressing on their own, and this improves the patient’s ability to be compliant with the recommended treatment.
Documentation Requirements
Each surgical dressing has its own documentation requirements. When dispensing a Wound Care Kit, it is important to document all of the required elements associated with both dressings dispensed. When both a primary dressing and secondary dressing are dispensed, a third party payer sees two different codes on two different lines of a claim form. While the Kit may feel like one entity to those dispensing them, the payer sees two claim lines and expects the documentation requirements associated with both products. A Kit with two different products is not a single entity in the eyes of a third party payer.
Example
In addition to medical necessity, a full thickness ulcer with moderate drainage qualifies for both collagen powder as a primary dressing and bordered gauze dressing as a secondary dressing. In this situation, a provider may choose to dispense an AMERX Wound Care Kit that contains both collagen powder and bordered gauze, leading to the submission of both A6010 and A6219 on the same claim form. If a third party payer sees both A6010 and A6219 on the same claim form, this is viewed as two different services and all of the documentation requirements for both will likely be expected.
Dr. Jeffrey D. Lehrman, DPM, FASPS, MAPWCA, CPC, CPMA
Dr. Lehrman is a podiatrist practicing in Fort Collins, CO and operates Lehrman Consulting, LLC which provides consultation services regarding coding, compliance and documentation. Dr. Lehrman is a Certified Professional Coder and Certified Professional Medical Auditor. He serves as a staff liaison at the AMA CPT® Editorial Panel meetings where CPT codes are created, edited, and deleted. 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. Dr Lehrman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management, Past Director of the American Professional Wound Care Association Board of Directors, and is a Past Chairman of the Board of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. Dr. Lehrman is also on the editorial advisory board of the journal WOUNDS.
