Podiatry is a respected medical specialty that focuses on the feet and ankles. Like all other medical professions, the services provided by the podiatrist will need to be paid by the patient and insurance company, or a combination of both. This is where podiatry billing services comes into play as they can efficiently collect the money from individuals and the insurance companies responsible for covering the services provided by the podiatrist. In most respects, it is no different than any other form of medical billing services.

There are services the podiatrist applies that are not covered by insurance, most of which being those that are not considered medically necessary for proper foot care. The care that is covered will be listed by the insurance company, or other organization that provides the coverage.

Services Not Covered:

There are several services provided by the podiatrist that are not traditionally covered by third-parties which include, but are not limited to the following;

• Flat Feet, Mycotic Nails, or Therapeutic Shoes
• Removal of Corns or Calluses, Trimming of Nails, and Debriding
• Foot Issues Caused by Diabetes Mellitus, Peripheral Neuropathies, or Chronic Thrombophlebitis
• Foot Issues Caused by Malnutrition, Toxins, Drugs, Multiple Sclerosis, Uremia, and Carcinoma

Simple services such as the cleaning of feet in preparation for examination are also not covered, but they are in most cases not charged either.

Billing Guidelines:

The guidelines for submitting billing for podiatry services are like other medical professions. First time submissions for claims need to include the name of the podiatrist, the diagnosis and its severity, and the date when the patient visited. Routine foot care by a non-podiatrist will not be reimbursed. Only services that are covered by the insurance company or organization will be reimbursed.

This is where podiatry billing services comes into play for the proper submission and reimbursement of claims. For the podiatrist, the proper use of codes is essential for the claim to go through. For most practices, this means using the right type of billing software or the use of medical billing services that can handle the process of the claim itself.

Following the proper coding procedures is a necessary part of the billing process. It’s important to remember that codes do not change for new patients as the same ones are used for every patient. Plus, over-coding may lead to issues as well in filing the proper claim. This is where the proper, professional podiatry billing experts work in ensuring that all coding is followed correctly and matches the treatment that the patient received.

Rejections become fewer and farther between when using the appropriate podiatry billing company. This is especially true for areas which fall under podiatry, such as reconstructive foot or ankle surgery, forensic podiatry services, sports medicine, wound care, limb salvage due to diabetes, and more. All services rendered by the podiatrist that are covered by insurance, or the appropriate organization are subject to proper claim filing and reimbursement. The greater care taken in the filing process, the more likely the podiatrist will be reimbursed for the services that are rendered.