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Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Reader Question:

Apparatus is Key to Correct Stimulation Code

Published on Wed Jan 20, 2010

Question: One service we offer at our clinic is bone stimulator application to help heal fresh fractures. We get our bone stimulator from a representative who comes to our office each time our podiatrist uses the apparatus. After the treatment, the representative explains to the patient how to properly use the bone stimulator and answers any questions the patient may have. Can our doctor bill for applying the bone stimulator on the patient? If so, what code should we use? Arizona Subscriber Answer: Your doctor can bill for the bone stimulator application only if he applies the apparatus on the patient himself. The code you need depends on the kind of bone stimulator your podiatrist applies on a patient and whether the treatment is operative or nonoperative. If the bone stimulator is an electrical model, you can report one of two codes: • 20974 (Electrical stimulation to aid bone healing; [...]
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