CHALLENGES PRACTICES FACE WHILE DOING WOUND CARE BILLING
The code alone does not define the scope of the procedure, so it is important to understand the guidelines for using the code. Additionally, there are
challenges when it comes to billing and coding internal wound care, including:
One of the most common mistakes is ignoring additional code
such as measuring debride areas. When coding wound care, it can be difficult to pinpoint non-selective and selective areas of debridement.
Another issue is that it is not reported as part of the E/M
service and dressings are not separately reported.
For chronic conditions, a thorough review of the patient's
medical record is required. This includes a list of procedures provided to treat the wound, follow-up visits, photographs documenting the progress of the
wound, etc. This process can be daunting and exhausting.
Physicians often fail to adequately document the specificity
of the wound, which is an important factor in choosing the correct diagnostic code.
