Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: I’m new to podiatry coding, and I’m trying to understand the difference between CPT^® codes 28800 and 28805. Can you please help me?

Rhode Island Subscriber

Answer: You would report 28800 (Amputation, foot; midtarsal (eg, Chopart type procedure)) when a podiatrist amputates the foot just in front of the heel and ankle. An example of this is the Chopart type procedure. This amputation occurs at the midtarsal joints through the talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints.

Midtarsal joints explained: The midtarsal joints, also known as transverse tarsal joints, are the combined joints of either the talus with the navicular bone or the calcaneum with the cuboid bone.

On the other hand, if the surgeon performs a transmetatarsal foot amputation, then you would report 28805 (Amputation, foot; transmetatarsal). In this procedure, the provider amputates the foot by cutting it across the metatarsal bones.

Coding tip: As you can see, you must always check the medical documentation carefully with amputations so you know exactly what part of the foot the podiatrist amputated as this will be the determining factor for the correct code choice.