Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: My podiatrist performed a bunionectomy correction with sesamoidectomy, with distal metatarsal osteotomy. Which code should I look to for this procedure?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: You should report 28296 (Correction, hallux valgus (bunionectomy), with sesamoidectomy, when performed; with distal metatarsal osteotomy, any method), which is the most commonly performed bunionectomy procedure, for your scenario.

Code 28296: Code 28296 “includes the removal of prominent or hypertrophied bone from the medial aspect of the first metatarsal head (distal metaphysis) along with distal first metatarsal osteotomy, and may additionally include the resection of excess bone at the dorsomedial, dorsal, and/or dorsolateral aspect of the metatarsal head, and/or base of the proximal phalanx with or without related soft-tissue correction, resection, or release,” according to CPT^® Assistant Vol. 26, No. 12.