Many times the right diagnosis is made, but the patient doesn't get better because of unaddressed underlying issues. DR. BEUTLER
Musculoskeletal Coding Dos and Don'ts
Dr. Beutler shared the following tips for getting paid:
▸ Do capture the time you spend. Brace fitting and care coordination can be included in the patient education or complexity sections of your E&M code. Crutch training can be coded as CPT 97116 or included in your E&M code. Fifteen minutes of exercise teaching can be coded as CPT 97110; smaller amounts of time can be included in your E&M code.
▸ Don't forget to code injections. Use CPT 20610 for most injections. Finger joints are 20600.
▸ Do use a 29 modifier. “If you diagnose subacromial shoulder pain and do a subacromial joint injection at the same visit, use a 29 modifier with your CPT code of 20610,” he said. “This tells the insurance company that you both diagnosed the subacromial pain and did the injection at the same visit.”
▸ Don't forget to bill for durable medical goods. If you provide the braces or the crutches, make sure that shows up on your billing.
▸ Do phone a friend. Phone your orthopedic office or referral center and ask them who does their orthopedic billing and coding. Find that person and take them out to lunch to talk coding, Dr. Beutler advised. “It will be well worth your time.”