I'm not exactly new to podiatry coding, but I'm in desperate need of a refresher. The practice I code for brought on new podiatrists, their documentation is so different from what I'm used to seeing, and they question everything I send back to them. I find that I'm second guessing myself and questioning my own coding every single day. Management also recently made a change and now all the coders in my department are expected to help billing with denial inquiries and research and I know almost nothing about billing. I sent one of the new podiatrists a message telling him that the callus removal he was trying to bill would not be billable because there were insufficient class findings to show vascular impairment (he only documented diminished pedal pulses) and removal due to pain is not covered under Medicare's routine foot and nail care policy. He sent a message back telling me that even if the diagnosis isn't supported I should still submit it because the "procedure was still performed, nonetheless". I'm confused about the other insurance carriers' policies and as a coder am I expected to know all of them? I don't know what insurance carriers cover what procedures...I just read the doctors note to see if the documentation supports the codes that the doctors chose/want to use. I send them a message telling them if something's not supported or if a coding change is required. Anyway, I have several other examples and I could really use one of your coaching sessions!!! How do I sign up?
