Diagnosis Specific DME Treatment Protocols and Charting Compliance North Carolina Foot and Ankle Society June 15, 2012 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Hal Ornstein, DPM, FASPS Chairman, American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management 22 years in Private Practice Howell, New Jersey

Reasons To Follow Treatment Protocols  Easy to follow  Consistent with standards of care  Medico-legal security  Ease of inventorying  Improved outcomes  Improved patient satisfaction  Patient convenience

***Fee Ceiling: as published for 2010 Note change of L Code... explained on next slide

Effective for claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2012, the only products which may be billed to Medicare using code L1906 (ANKLE FOOT ORTHOSIS, MULTILIGAMENTUS ANKLE SUPPORT, PREFABRICATED, INCLUDES FITTING AND ADJUSTMENT) are those for which a written coding verification has been made by the Pricing, Data Analysis, and Coding (PDAC) contractor and that are listed in the Product Classification Matrix of the DME Coding System (DMECS). Products which have not received coding verification review from the PDAC must be billed with code A9270. Please refer to the advisory article titled Coding Guidelines for Ankle Foot Orthoses. Recently, Medicare announced that the design of an L1906 device must "include a rigid stirrup and foot plate which provides functional tracking of the ankle with hind-foot and mid-foot stability during ambulation."

1906 vs L1906 ANKLE FOOT ORTHOSIS, MULTILIGAMENTUS ANKLE SUPPORT, PREFABRICATED, INCLUDES FITTING AND ADJUSTMENT L1902 ANKLE FOOT ORTHOSIS, ANKLE GAUNTLET, PREFABRICATED, INCLUDES FITTING AND ADJUSTMENT Ossur GameDay Suggested Code: L1902 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $90.11 Darco Body Armor Sport ~ Sweed-O White/Black Suggested Code: L1906 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $138.87

Commonly used AFO Categories/DME HCPCS Codes L2999 Non covered L1902 AFO, Gauntlet style L1906 AFO, Multiligamentous L4386 AFO, Non-pneumatic walking L4396 AFO, Plantarfascia night splint L4360 AFO, Pneumatic below knee L1971 AFO, With ankle joint L4350 AFO, Ankle control orthotics L1932 AFO, Dynamic L1951 AFO, Spiral, plastic, other

Which diagnoses are covered for use of non-custom DME items (AFO's)?

There is no diagnoses list. Devices must meet "medical justification". * exceptions are specific criteria for night splint (L4396) and no walking boot coverage for ulcers

Medical Justification for AFOs State Functional Benefits Covered for ambulatory patients with weakness or deformity of the foot and ankle who require stabilization and have the potential to benefit functionally. To provide support in at least two planes. AFO must provide support and counterforce (i.e., a force in a defined direction of a magnitude at least as great as a rigid or semi-rigid support) on the limb or body part that it is being used to brace.

Chart Notes establish “Medical Justification” Justification for custom vs. non-custom

Ankle Sprain ~ Grade 1 Possible Diagnosis Codes: Sprain and strain of ankle and foot, calcaneofibular Sprain and strain of ankle and foot, unspecified site Pain in limb Unspecified disorder of ankle and foot

Ankle Sprain ~ Grade 1 Initial Visit Ossur GameDay Suggested Code: L1902 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $92.19

Ankle Sprain ~ Grade 2 & 3 Possible Diagnosis Codes: Ankle pain and support Effusion of joint, ankle, foot Sprain and strain of ankle and foot, calcaneofibular Sprain and strain of ankle and foot, deltoid ligament Ankle fracture, lateral malleolus only Ankle fracture, trimalleolar

Ankle Sprain ~ Grades 2 & 3 Initial Visit Pneumatic Walker Suggested Code: L4360 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ SafeStep Adjustable Air Walker Ossur Rebound Air Walker

Ankle Sprain ~ Grade 2 & 3 Follow up visit, weeks Suggested Code: L1971 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Delayed Healing Healing Well Ossur Rebound Hinged Ankle Brace Ossur GameDay Suggested Code: L1902 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $92.19 Ossur Exoform Suggested Code: L1902 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $92.19

Ankle Instability Possible Diagnosis Codes: Sprain and strain of ankle and foot, calcaneofibular Sprain and strain of ankle and foot, unspecified

A nkle Instability: Initial Visit Mild Moderate Suggested Code: L1971 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Rebound Hinged Ankle Brace Ossur GameDay Suggested Code: L1902 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $92.19

Plantar Fasciitis Possible Diagnosis Codes: Plantar fascial fibromatosis

Plantar fasciitis: Initial Visit Aircast Airheel Suggested Code: L2999 Patient Pays PowerStep Insert Suggested Code: L2999 Patient Pays

Plantar fasciitis: Subsequent Visit Night Splint ~ Posterior or Dorsal Suggested Code: L4396 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ SafeStep DME Dorsal Night Splint Darco Dorsal Night Splint SafeStep DME PosteriorNight Splint

Plantar fasciitis: Subsequent Visit Pneumatic Walker Suggested Code: L4360 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Severe Ossur Rebound Low Walker SafeStep DME Low Top Air Walker

Posterior Tibialis Tendonitis Possible Diagnosis Codes: Tibialis tendonitis Late effect of tendon injury, sprain, strain

Posterior Tibialis Tendonitis Mild Initial Visit Aircast Airlift PTTD Suggested Code: L4350 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ PowerStep Insert Suggested Code: L2999 Patient Pays

Posterior Tibialis Tendonitis Moderate : Initial Visit Suggested Code: L1971 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Rebound Hinged Ankle Brace Darco Vario Suggested Code: L1971 *can also include code L2275 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $517.14

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis Severe, Initial Visit Pneumatic Walker Suggested Code: L4360 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ SafeStep DME Air Walker Ossur Rebound Air Walker

Posterior Tibialis Tendon Rupture Stage 3 Possible Diagnosis Codes: Rupture, tendon of foot and ankle, non-traumatic Laxity of ligament 734 Flat foot, acquired

Posterior Tibialis Tendon Rupture, Stage 3: Initial Visit Pneumatic Walker Suggested Code: L4360 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Rebound Air Walker SafeStep DME Air Walker

Posterior Tibialis Strain Rupture, Stage 3: Subsequent Visit, if getting better Aircast Airlift PTTD Suggested Code: L4350 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Less Severe Darco Vario More Severe Ossur Rebound Suggested Code: L1971 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $517.14

Posterior Tibialis Tendon Rupture ~ Stage 3: Subsequent Visit, if getting worse Arizona Standard AFO Suggested Codes: L1940, L2330, L2820 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $1099 AZ Split Upright or Richie AFO Suggested Codes: L1970, L2820 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $901

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Possible Diagnosis Codes: Tarsal tunnel syndrome Pain in joint, ankle, foot

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Initial Visit Mild Moderate Suggested Code: L1971 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Rebound Hinged Ankle Brace Aircast Airlift PTTD Suggested Code: L4350 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $103.23

Severe Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Initial Visit Pneumatic Walkers Suggested Code: L4360 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Rebound Low Top Air Walker SafeStep DME Low Top Air Walker

Severe Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Subsequent Visit Aircast Airlift PTTD Suggested Code: L4350 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $103.23

Peroneal Tendonitis Possible Diagnosis Codes: Enthesopathy of ankle and tarsus

Peroneal Tendonitis Initial Visit Mild to Moderate Ossur Game Day Suggested Code: L1902 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $92.19

Peroneal Tendonitis ~ Severe Initial Visit Pneumatic Walkers Suggested Code: L4360 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Rebound Air Walker SafeStep DME Air Walker

Achilles Tendonitis Achilles Tendon Rupture Possible Diagnosis Codes: Achilles tendon strain, rupture Achilles tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis ~ Achilles Tendon Tear Initial Visit Pneumatic Walkers Suggested Code: L4360 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Rebound Air Walker SafeStep DME Air Walker

Achillies Tendonitis with Plantar Flexion Contracture of the Ankle (718.47) Initial Visit Night Splint ~ Posterior or Dorsal Suggested Code: L4396 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Ossur Formfit Posterior Night Splint Ossur Airform Dorsal Night Splint SafeStep DME Dorsal Night Splint

Achillies Tendonitis with Plantar Flexion Contracture of the Ankle (718.47): Prerequisite to qualify for Medicare billing: Requires dorsiflexion on passive range of motion testing of at least 10 degrees (i.e., a nonfixed contracture); and, Reasonable expectation of the ability to correct the contracture; and, Contracture is interfering or expected to interfere significantly with the beneficiary's functional abilities; and, Used as a component of a therapy program which includes active stretching of the involved muscles and/or tendons

Metatarsal Fracture Possible Diagnosis Codes: Stress fracture, unspecified Fracture of the metatarsal bone

Metatarsal Fracture : Initial visit SafeStep DME Non-Pnematic Low Top Walker Suggested Code: L4386 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $ Darco Med-Surg Walker Suggested Code: L2999 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: Patient pays

Metatarsal Fracture : Follow up visit PowerStep ProTech Prefabricated Orthotic Suggested Code: L2999 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: Patient pays

Flaccid Drop Foot Possible Diagnosis Codes: Acquired deformity of foot and ankle Hemiplegia Joint derangement, ankle and foot Peroneal muscle atrophy, Charcot Marie Tooth disease 340 Multiple sclerosis 138 Poliomyelitis, late effects

Flaccid Drop Foot : Initial Visit Euro International Peromax Suggested Code: L1951 DMEPOS Fee Ceiling: $926

Chart Documentation

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