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Coding tip: Examine the 2008 CPT changes to orthopedic fracture treatment: Note the major revisions to fracture care verbiage

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, January 29, 2008

If your ASC performs fracture care, you will want to be aware of the new CPT language for many 2008 fracture codes. The American Medical Association (AMA) has revised many of the code descriptors for open fracture treatment procedures to read "includes internal fixation, when performed." This change in verbiage (many of these codes previously read "with or without internal or external fixation") means that the AMA now excludes the use of external fixation in the procedure and coders should code separately for external fixation.

Check Medicare's Correct Coding Initiative unbundling edits to be sure Medicare will reimburse separately for the use of external fixation in the procedure, and would not consider it to be incidental and unbundled, and therefore not separately reimbursable.

This tip is brought to you by Ellis Medical Consulting, Inc.

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