Casting supply codes
March 1st, 2009 - Codapedia Editor
HCPCS codes include temporary codes developed by CMS. Sometimes, the temporary codes stick around for a while.
There are HCPCS codes for the provision of cast supplies to Medicare patients. A physician office may always be paid for the cost of the casting materials, whether billing global fracture care of E/M services. If the group is charging for fracture care, using the Ortho fracture care codes, then do not bill for the application of the cast.
The cast supply codes are Q codes, ranging from G4001 through G4051. These codes are found in the HCPCS book. They are divided by the location of the injury (arm, head, leg, ankle), the type of material used (fiberglass, plaster) and the age of the patient (child or adult). Physician offices who apply casts should keep an updated list of these codes available to them.
Medicare and many third party insurers do not pay separately for most supplies used in treating the patient in the physician office. This is because the cost of the supply is factored into the practice expense Relative Value Unit of the code, and so CMS has already paid you for it. Casting supplies is one set of supply that is reimbursed separately. Be sure to bill for it.
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