Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: Is there a method of correlating Wagner's ulcer classification to ICD-9 and CPT® codes? For example, how should one report a grade 3 ulcer?Louisiana SubscriberAnswer: You really don't need to worry about Wagner's ulcer classifications when you're trying to determine a diagnosis code from the podiatrist's chart notes. Wagner's method classifies ulcers according to their depth, while ICD-9 classifies ulcers according to their type, decubitus (707.0x) or non-decubitus (707.1x), and their location (ankle, heel, midfoot).Wagner's ulcer classification: Grade 0: No open ulceration; Grade 1: Full thickness ulcer, not beyond loss of skin; Grade 2: Deep ulceration with exposed tendon/joint; Grade 3: Ulcer extends down to bone, osteomyelitis may be present; Grade 4: Wet or dry gangrene may be present; Grade 5: Extensive gangrene with no local salvageable procedureBesides the diagnosis differences, the CPT® code you select is based on the depth to which the podiatrist debrides the wound, not the [...]