Everything You Need To Know About Podiatry Billing Services Guidelines

Podiatry is one of the medical specialties, which concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of the human feet and ankles. Podiatrists care about different conditions related to the foot such as heel spurs, toenails, fallen arches, foot/ankle injuries, and plantar fasciitis. Services offered by podiatrists should be paid for by either insurance companies or the patients or by both. Podiatry billing services are a very critical part of many practices.

As far as podiatry billing services are concerned, it is able to collect money efficiently from payers that are accountable for covering the services offered by podiatrists and patients. There are some services, which are not covered by payers, especially those which are not considered medically needed for appropriate foot care as per the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (MBPM).

Below we Mentioned the Services which are Covered by Payers:

An exception to podiatry services covered

There are specific foot care services that are not covered by Medicare, and there are chances to be covered under general third-party insurance. If you avail of some sort of foot care services that fall into this category then it is a waste of time to hassle with your insurance company for reimbursement. Which are those services?

Regular Foot Care

Services that are known as routine foot care and aren’t covered by Medicare are as follows:

  • The removal or cutting of calluses and corns
  • The cutting, clipping, trimming, and debriding of nails
  • Other preventive and hygienic maintenance care like the usage of skin creams to keep an even skin tone of bedfast or ambulatory patients, cleaning and soaking the feet, and Others.

Flat Foot

The concept of a flat foot is known as the condition in which one or more of the foot has flattened out. Devices or services guided towards the treatment or care of such conditions, like the prescription of supportive devices, are not covered.

Supportive Devices for Feet

Devices such as orthopedic shoes and others are generally not covered. Medicare can cover such shoes if it is a fundamental part of a leg brace. Moreover, its price is mentioned as part of the brace’s cost. Apart from this, a narrow exception allows coverage of special shoes and injects for particular patients with diabetes.

Podiatry Billing Services Guidelines

  • Submission of claims requires including the diagnosis and its intensity, the name of the podiatrist, and the visit date of a patient. Routine foot care offered by a non-podiatrist won’t be reimbursed. Services, which are covered by the payer will get reimbursed.
  • Proper utilization of codes in order to avoid claims denials. Outsourcing billing services are necessary for a podiatrist that can manage the claim process.
  • Avoid over-coding and follow coding procedures for filing claims. It is important to keep in mind that codes do not change from patient to patient.
  • Carefully document any conclusive proof that a service’s non-professional performance might have been damaging to the recipient as a result of associated systemic illness. Saying that the recipient has a critical condition like diabetes does not of itself point out the criticality of the condition.

The above-mentioned are some of the aspects and guidelines for podiatry billing services. From this, you may get a clear picture of services and illnesses, which are not covered by insurance companies.

MBC’s team of Medical Billing Experts works closely with healthcare providers to ensure that all medical services are accurately coded and billed. To know more about our billing and coding services, email us at: info@medicalbillersandcoders.com or call us at 888-357-3226.

FAQs

1. What services are covered under podiatry billing by insurance companies?

Insurance companies typically cover podiatry services deemed medically necessary, such as the treatment of foot and ankle conditions like heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and injuries. However, routine foot care, such as nail trimming and callus removal, is usually not covered unless linked to a medical condition like diabetes.

2. Are routine foot care services covered by Medicare?

No, Medicare generally does not cover routine foot care services such as cutting or trimming nails, removing corns and calluses, or other preventive care. Exceptions may apply if the care is related to a medical condition, such as diabetes, that requires specialized attention.

3. Are orthopedic shoes and supportive devices for feet covered by insurance?

In most cases, orthopedic shoes and supportive devices are not covered by insurance. Medicare may cover special shoes for patients with diabetes or if the shoes are part of a leg brace. Otherwise, these items are usually not reimbursed.

4. What is flat foot, and are services related to its treatment covered?

Flat foot is a condition where the foot lacks a proper arch. Services or devices aimed at treating flat foot, such as orthopedic shoes or supportive devices, are generally not covered by Medicare or most insurance providers unless associated with a medically necessary condition.

5. Why is outsourcing podiatry billing services recommended?

Outsourcing podiatry billing services is recommended to ensure that claims are submitted correctly, coded accurately, and reimbursement is maximized. Billing experts help avoid common issues like over-coding, under-coding, and claim denials, streamlining the revenue cycle for podiatry practices.

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