Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: A pediatrician taped a child's injured fingers to provide stability. How should I report the service?


California Subscriber
 

Answer: You should use an E/M code, such as 99201-99215 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new or established patient ...), with additional charges for the supplies. CPT does not contain a specific surgical code for finger or toe taping.

But if you perform fracture treatment, you should use the appropriate procedure code, which includes taping, casting or splinting, but not supplies. Look at coding closed treatment of a finger without manipulation as 26720 (Closed treatment of phalangeal shaft fracture, proximal or middle phalanx, finger or thumb; without manipulation, each).

For great toe closed treatment without manipulation, use 28490 (Closed treatment of fracture great toe, phalanx or phalanges; without manipulation). Submit closed toe treatment other than the great toe as 28510 (Closed treatment of fracture, phalanx or phalanges, other than great toe; without manipulation, each).

Remember: You should never report a splint code when the pediatrician tapes a fracture. The finger splint application codes (29130-29131, Application of finger splint ...) require just that - applying a splint. Taping doesn't qualify as splinting.