ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Hint: Look to materials to narrow down your selection.When a patient reports to the ED with an injury that requires a splint or strap, coders must know the difference between the two in order to assign the correct procedure code. Review these rules to make sure your code choice is secure.Use 2 Scenarios As Guides CPT® includes a special section on application of casts, strapping and splints arranged by body area (i.e. body and upper extremity or lower extremity). Use those codes, 29000-29799, to report any splinting and strapping services. The preamble to that section offers two scenarios for coding the application of splints and strapping:the service is a replacement procedure used during or after the period of follow up care (whether or not the physician provided restorative treatment [fracture care] to the patient); or the service is an initial service performed without restorative treatment or procedures(s) to stabilize or [...]