Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Warning: Incorrect diagnosis codes and modifiers could be leading you astray. If you're getting the same podiatry denials all the time -- whether the dollar amount in question is large or small, it might be time to review your ICD-9 coding practices. The solution to your problem may be as simple as reminding yourself of these 3 important insights when reporting ICD-9 codes. 1. Be Careful of Your CPT/ICD-9 Combos For one, you might be guilty of listing incorrect CPT/ICD-9 code combinations on the claim form. If patients have more than one condition, obviously several ICD-9 codes would be required. Here's the catch: Each individual CPT code must correctly align with a proper ICD-9 code, says Anthony Poggio, DPM in Podiatry Today. Example: A patient presents with fasciitis (729.4, Fasciitis unspecified) and a verruca plantaris (078.12, Plantar wart). An injection code (20550, Injection[s]; single tendon sheath, of ligament, aponeurosis [e.g., [...]