Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Answer: You should report 28415 (Open treatment of calcaneal fracture, includes internal fixation, when performed) for this service. Code 28415 is an open surgical procedure that requires an incision.

On the other hand, if the podiatrist had performed an open treatment of the calcaneal fracture, but he had also used a bone graft for reconstruction, then you would look to code 28420 (Open treatment of calcaneal fracture, includes internal fixation, when performed; with primary iliac or other autogenous bone graft (includes obtaining graft)). Code 28420 uses a bone graft either from the iliac crest, which in most states would have to be done by an orthopedic surgeon and you would append modifier 62 (Two surgeons), or other autogenous bone graft and the procedure includes obtaining the graft.