Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: A podiatrist in our office just did a hammertoe correction using an interphalangeal fusion. For that, I report 28285. But once the patient's foot has healed, I'm wondering how to code for the removal of the K-wire. Is there a modifier I should use in addition to the code? California Subscriber Answer: You may not bill separately for the removal of a Kwire when you are reporting 28285 (Correction, hammertoe [e.g., interphalangeal fusion, partial or total phalangectomy]) because the K-wire removal is bundled into the procedure. If the foot has healed properly with the pin still outside the skin, you can't bill for it. Using 10120 (Incision and removal of foreign body, subcutaneous tissues; simple) would also be inappropriate. Don't miss: There is one case in which you can recoup reimbursement for the wire removal: if the K-wire has been cut and got buried beneath the skin. In this [...]