Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: Does the 2019 CPT^® manual give us any more information about codes 29540, 29580, and 29581?

Wisconsin Subscriber

Answer: Yes. The 2019 CPT^® manual has added further clarification under several codes in the “Strapping-Any Age” section including 29540 (Strapping; ankle and/or foot); 29580 (Strapping; Unna boot); and 29581(Application of multi-layer compression system; leg (below knee), including ankle and foot).

Take a look at the following new instructions you should be aware of when you report the following codes:

• 29540 — You should not report 29540 in conjunction with 29580 or 29581 for the same extremity, according to CPT^®.
• 29580 — Never report 29580 in conjunction with 29540 or 29581 for the same extremity, according to CPT^®.
• 29581 —You should never report 29581 in conjunction with 29540 or 29580 for the same extremity, per CPT^®.

Don’t miss: You should also never report 29540, 29580, or 29581 in conjunction with codes 36465 (Injection of non-compounded foam sclerosant with ultrasound compression maneuvers to guide dispersion of the injectate, inclusive of all imaging guidance and monitoring; single incompetent extremity truncal vein (eg, great saphenous vein, accessory saphenous vein)) through +36483 (Endovenous ablation therapy of incompetent vein, extremity, by transcatheter delivery of a chemical adhesive (eg, cyanoacrylate) remote from the access site, inclusive of all imaging guidance and monitoring, percutaneous; subsequent vein(s) treated in a single extremity, each through separate access sites (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)) for the same extremity, according to CPT^®.