The FootZine web site is a snow-free zone now, and with any luck we'll be able to say the same about the Pacific Northwest, or at least Seattle, really soon!

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Congratulations to Faye Frankfort,  APMA's Director of Legislative Advocacy, on receiving the 2003 Toth Award for distinguished service in public health.  This is an award presented by the American Public Health Association and is usually given to a DPM.  Faye has been a member of APHA's Podiatric Health Section since 1987, holding a number of positions within the section.  Many of you have met Faye at National meetings and know her cheerful, positive approach to podiatric advocacy.  (See FootZine Volume 58).  We're happy to see this recognition for Faye!

 ~ Gayle

From:  Barbara Ferguson
re:      SAS Shoes

I wish to buy a pair of shoes.
I'm looking for FREETIME WHITE WHITE- SIZE 81/2
Can you help me?

Barbara Ferguson

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From:   Velma Johnson, SAS Shoemakers
re:       SAS Shoes  (Forwarded Letter from Barbara Ferguson)

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Thank you for contacting us and welcome the opportunity to help in anyway we can.  Please accept our apology for the delay in getting back to you.

We received your e-mail on Barbara Ferguson needing information on where to purchase SAS shoes.  We do sell factory seconds (shoes with small cosmetic flaws) at several stores in Texas.  These stores are located in San Antonio (101 New Laredo Hwy. location), El Paso, Laredo, Del Rio and Brownsville.  However, theses shoes are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and are not available by mail order.  Also, since these are factory seconds, all styles may not be available in all sizes, widths or colors.

We will gladly e-mail her a list of stores in her area that carry our products.  We need the zip code or city and state in which she lives in.  If she is unable to find the style, size, color or width she needs, any store on the list can special order it for her.  
We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Velma Johnson
SAS Shoemakers
Casa Department

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From:  Mary Jo Koepke
re:      Kidde Replacements

We too are having to replace our Kidde Cuff.  Just spoke to Dagne at Delfi and she is faxing me price list and parts list.  Off the cuff, pardon the pun, one unit, 2 cuffs and hose set will cost about $2,400.00. (plus tax and shipping)  Are there any other manufacturers that you know of?

(Follow-up from Mary Jo Koepke)

Gayle,

Since then, I found on internet, Sammons Preston Rolyan, has 2 units, but have been unable to determine if they are free standing or not.   SCANMED has a tourniquet system as well as EXPRESS-AIRE.  I sent them an email regarding these units but have not heard.  I'll keep you posted.

Mary Jo Koepke

The First Question:

From:  Penny Hildebrand  
re:      Mold Casting codes

Ma'am,
 
I have been having some difficulty finding a definitive answer to the use of 2 codes when coding for orthotic appliances.  I found your site online but wasn't sure if I could ask you coding questions or not!  Do you know of someone I could contact with a couple of questions regarding the use of 97504 & S0395?  Any assistance you can provide would be deeply appreciated!

Penny L Hildebrand, CPC
Coding Auditor, HCRS
Keesler AFB

*_*   This reply sent to Penny in December   *_*

Hello Penny,

You are welcome to ask coding questions here.  We have a coding guru, Dr. Phillip Ward, who answers coding questions for our subscribers.  I will forward your questions to him, but there won't be another issue of FootZine until after the Holidays.  In the meantime, you may want to review some of the coding information already on the web site (see the link of the left side of the home page for "Coding").   ~ Gayle   *_*

The Follow-up Questions:

From: Penny Hildebrand  
re:     mold casting codes

Wow!  That was quick service!  I have checked the site but the questions I have aren't addressed.  I have been auditing the Orthotic Lab which provides quite a few foot orthotics and keep getting conflicting information from my supposedly "expert" sources!  I'm not altogether sure Dr. Ward will have the answers I'm seeking but here goes!

I was told that when the L codes include a custom fitting or fitting and adjustment in the code that you cannot use 97504 to account for the time they take to customize the appliance. 
Sometimes they perform casting also to create a mold (this is where I question the use of S0395).  They make the appliances here but usually start with a pre-existing appliance to customize so I don't think they would be considered the manufacturer.  Maybe I'm wrong on this one?

I have checked the CCI edits and every other site I can think of to try to determine where my sources came up with the information they provided me but cannot find anything to substantiate it. Yours is the only site I could even find that addressed any coding issues regarding the appliances!

If all of this is beyond his expertise, I want you to know that I still very much appreciate the effort!
 
Happy Holidays!
Penny Hildebrand, CPC

The First Answers:

97504  (orthotic fitting and training, lower extremity, each 15 minutes) can be used on the day of dispensing of an orthotic in addition to the L code for the device itself.  It is to be billed in increments of 15 minutes.  Rarely should would it take longer than 15 minutes of the physicians time to instruct the patient about the use of the orthotic.
 
S0395  (impression casting of a foot performed by a practitioner other than the manufacturer of the orthotic) is not to be used when modifying an OTC device.  It is to be used to code for the foot impressions when somebody else is making the orthotics.  You can use the S0395 code in addition to the L codes for the orthotics if you are not the manufacturer of the custom devices.

The Second Question:

Having a real hard time finding medicare code for unna boot ie; paste bandage, zinc...is there such a code?

-CMKWILL

The Second Answer:

The code for the application of an Unna boot is 29580.  There is no code for the supply itself.


Crystal-Clear Coding tips by Dr. Ward are posted on the FootZine web site on this page:
http://www.footzine.com/FZ_C.htm


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"In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it.  They must not do too much of it.  And they must have a sense of success in it."
  -  John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

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Last week I was surprised, as I'm sure many of you were, to read "Farewell" from Alan Sherman, DPM, Editor of Podiatry Online since its inception 8 years ago.  As a Podiatry Online subscriber, I have appreciated the information and exchange of ideas in his broadcasts as well as his unique perspective and insights.  In the past few years his broadcasts have expanded to include articles by and for podiatric assistants, which ultimately benefited both doctors and assistants.   We also enjoyed his "finds", like the Visual Thesaurus (I have it book-marked now) and the butterfly habitat, among many others.  Dr. Sherman has undertaken other projects recently which will also benefit the podiatric community, and so has stepped down from the publishing of his e-zine.

From my own perspective, Dr. Sherman also introduced me to web site and e-zine publishing in August of 2000, and coached me through all the technical things that were so new and abstract to me then.  The background he provided gave me the know-how and confidence to  start FootZine last year.  So to Dr. Sherman I extend a big "Thank You", and many good wishes.

 

  ~ Gayle