Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: My podiatrist saw a patient in the emergency department for a non-displaced tarsal bone fracture, which did not require manipulation. Rather than applying a cast, the podiatrist placed a prefabricated short leg removable cast. I spoke with my podiatrist and the patient will not require much in the way of additional treatment. She was instructed to follow up with the orthopedist in two weeks. Can this be reported as fracture care?

Wisconsin Subscriber

Answer: Yes, you can report this with code 28450 (Treatment of tarsal bone fracture [except talus and calcaneus]; without manipulation, each). In this case, the podiatrist has determined that there is a fracture, decided on the appropriate course of treatment, so he is meeting the requirements for reporting the fracture care code.

However, unless they are providing the associated follow-up fracture care included in the global surgical package, be sure to append the 54 modifier to indicate you are reporting the procedure only.