Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: How should we report the treatment of a foot wound of less than 50 sq. cm that requires both the application of Dermagraft and wound VAC within the global period?

Virginia Subscriber

Answer: For the wound preparation, you would select 15002 (Surgical preparation or creation of recipient site by excision of open wounds, burn eschar, or scar (including subcutaneous tissues), or incisional release of scar contracture, trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq. cm or 1% of body area of infants and children).

For the Dermagraft application, you should report 15275 (Application of skin substitute graft to face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits, total wound surface area up to 100 sq. cm; first 25 sq. cm or less wound surface area) and 15276 (...each additional 25 sq. cm wound surface area, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)).

For the final step, the wound VAC application, you will report 97605 (Negative pressure wound therapy (e.g., vacuum-assisted drainage collection), utilizing durable medical equipment (DME), including topical application(s), wound assessment, and instruction(s) for ongoing care, per session; total wound(s) surface area less than or equal to 50 square centimeters).