Practice Management Alert

Reader Question:

Stay Up to Date on Payer LCDs

Question: A colleague told me that if we bill to Palmetto, there are two new codes we can use for varicose veins, but I can’t find the information anywhere. Is there new Palmetto guidance I should know?

Hawaii Subscriber

Answer: Your colleague is correct. Effective Oct. 18, 2012, Palmetto added two new ICD-9 codes that support medical necessity for lower extremity varicose vein procedures:

  • 459.31, Chronic venous hypertension with ulcer
  • 459.33, Chronic venous hypertension with ulcer and inflammation.

To be sure you refer to the LCD that applies to your date of service, search the Medicare coverage database at www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/. For instance, to find the LCD referenced here, search L31796 in the quick search box, and then enter the relevant date of service on the next screen.