Two New Codes for Diabetic Food Ulcer Treatment

CPT will come up new codes in 2011. The new codes are G0440 and G0441

As we go into the new year, the talk that's doing the rounds most among the coding community is the Cpt Code changes. CPT will come up with over 200 new codes with the purpose of helping you code more accurately. These changes will have an affect on several categories, and podiatry is no exception.

For podiatry, there are two new codes to report diabetic foot ulcer treatment involving tissue cultured skin substitutes to the lower extremity.

The new codes are G0440 (Application of tissue cultured allogeneic skin substitute or dermal substitute; for use on lower limb, includes the site preparation and debridement if performed; first 25 sq cm or less) and G0441 (…each additional 25 sq cm) that'll put an end to the confusion providers put forth the different global periods for two tissue cultured skin substitute codes.

To cite an instance, a patient presents to the office with a history of diabetes and neuropathy. For the past six weeks, he has been treated for an ulcer with minimal results from standard conservative care. An exam shows an ulcer under the fifth metatarsal head. The ulcer measures one cm in diameter and shows necrotic tissue at the base. The podiatrist carried out a debridement, sharply removing it with scalpel and picking up at the skin margins and necrotic tissue. There's no exposure of the muscle or bone. If the podiatrist prepared for an application of Dermagraft or Appligraft, placing the substance in sterile normal fashion and then bandaging in standard fashion, you would use G0440.

For further details on this and to get all updates on how the CPT code changes (http://www.supercoder.com/cpt-codes) are affecting your specialty, sign up for a medical coding guide like Supercoder!