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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Check Restorative Status Before You Bill 29540

Published on Sat Nov 20, 2010

Question: Can we report 29540 for strapping with other procedures, such as fracture care, or is it bundled into the main procedure? Answer: If your orthopedist performs the strapping in coordination with fracture care, injury, or dislocation treatment, you're not going to be able to separately report 29540 (Strapping; ankle and/or foot). Reason: CPT guidelines state that you can separately report 29540 "when the cast application or strapping is an initial service performed without a restorative treatment or procedure(s) to stabilize or protect a fracture, injury, or dislocation and/or to afford comfort to a patient." Unfortunately, payers have yet to form a consensus on interpretation of this guideline. For example, your orthopedist performs a cortisone injection for plantar fasciitis (20550, Injection[s]; single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis [e.g., plantar "fascia"]) and then uses strapping to further alleviate pain. You may be able to collect for both procedures since a cortisone [...]
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