Wiki Wound Care

[nturner1]

Hello,
Does anyone know if there are any policies/information on whether a provider should bill for all services for wound care, including standard/simple wound dressings?
Typically, standard wound care dressings are changed by a nurse, but the provider is usually called into the room due to chronicity/deterioration of most wounds.

Thanks!

 

[thomas7331]

The answer will depend on a number of different variables here. If the care is being provided in a physician's office and by his or her employees, then yes, all of this can be billed as long as the 'incident to' requirements are met and as long as the wound care is not a component of another service (e.g. is not follow-up care in the global period of a procedure done by the physician). If the care is being provided in a facility, on the other hand, then only the facility will bill for the supplies and services administered by the nurses or staff, and the provider may only bill for their professional services, when rendered, and again only if those services are not a component of some other service that is billed separately. Does that help some?

 

[nturner1]

In short, if the care is being provided in a physician's office and by his or her employees, then yes, all of wound care including simple dressing changes, can be billed as long as the 'incident to' requirements are met. However, if the care is being provided in a facility, (e.g. hospital) then only the facility will bill for the supplies and services administered by the nurses or staff, and the provider may only bill for their professional services if warranted?