Podiatry Billing and Coding Course

Lesson 1 • Podiatry-Specific Billing Regulations

Introduces regulatory frameworks governing podiatry reimbursement, including routine-care exclusions. Students recognise compliance boundaries before coding begins.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to Claim Forms

Presents the standard professional claim form used for podiatry outpatient services and its required fields. Builds form literacy needed for accurate claim submission.

Lesson 3 • Roles in the Billing Department

Defines responsibilities of coders, billers, front-desk staff, and providers in the billing process. Clarifies accountability at each revenue cycle touchpoint.

Lesson 4 • The Podiatry Revenue Cycle Overview

Maps the end-to-end revenue cycle from patient scheduling to payment posting. Provides the structural framework all subsequent billing topics build upon.

Lesson 1 • Foot and Ankle Anatomy Essentials

Covers bones, joints, tendons, and soft tissues of the foot and ankle relevant to coding. Anatomical precision directly reduces code selection errors.

Lesson 2 • Procedural Terminology and Abbreviations

Introduces surgical and clinical procedure terms and abbreviations found in operative notes. Decoding procedure language is prerequisite to selecting surgical CPT codes.

Lesson 3 • Common Podiatric Pathologies

Describes frequently billed conditions including nail disorders, deformities, and ulcerations. Familiarity with pathology names accelerates accurate diagnosis code lookup.

Lesson 1 • Coding Structural Foot Deformities

Covers diagnosis codes for bunions, hammertoes, flatfoot, and acquired deformities with laterality. Deformity coding accuracy supports surgical authorisation and reimbursement.

Lesson 2 • Diabetic Foot and Wound Coding

Addresses combination codes for diabetic foot ulcers, neuropathy, and peripheral vascular disease. Correct sequencing of diabetic codes is critical for compliance and reimbursement.

Lesson 3 • Diagnosis Coding System Structure

Explains the alphanumeric hierarchy, chapter organisation, and tabular conventions of the diagnosis coding system. Structural knowledge enables efficient and accurate code lookup.

Lesson 4 • Coding Nail and Skin Conditions

Applies diagnosis coding guidelines to onychomycosis, ingrown nails, corns, calluses, and warts. These high-frequency codes form the core of routine podiatry billing.

Lesson 1 • Nail Care and Skin Procedure Codes

Covers CPT codes for nail avulsion, debridement, lesion removal, and skin procedures. These are the most frequently billed podiatry codes and require precise unit counting.

Lesson 2 • Wound Care and Debridement Codes

Teaches active wound care management codes, including selective and non-selective debridement. Accurate surface area measurement and tissue depth determine correct code assignment.

Lesson 3 • Foot and Ankle Surgery Codes

Applies CPT coding to bunionectomy, hammertoe correction, tendon repair, and fracture fixation. Surgical code selection depends on operative note detail and approach documentation.

Lesson 4 • CPT Code System Fundamentals

Reviews CPT code categories, format, and guidelines specific to podiatry sections. Understanding code structure prevents unbundling errors and supports accurate billing.

Lesson 1 • Podiatry-Specific Routine Care Modifiers

Addresses the Q-series and class-finding modifiers unique to podiatry routine foot care billing. These modifiers are required to override routine-care exclusions for eligible patients.

Lesson 2 • Bilateral and Multiple Procedure Modifiers

Covers modifiers for bilateral procedures and multiple surgeries performed in the same session. Correct application prevents automatic payment reductions and denials.

Lesson 3 • Modifier Fundamentals and Purpose

Defines what modifiers are, when they are required, and how they alter claim processing. Establishes the rule-based logic students apply throughout modifier selection.

Lesson 4 • Evaluation and Management Modifiers

Covers modifiers that allow separate E/M billing on the same day as a procedure. Students identify when clinical documentation supports a separately billable E/M service.

Lesson 1 • Medical Decision-Making in Podiatry

Applies MDM tables to podiatric conditions, mapping problem complexity, data review, and risk. MDM-based coding is the primary selection method for most podiatry encounters.

Lesson 2 • Auditing E/M Levels for Compliance

Teaches self-audit techniques to verify E/M level accuracy before and after claim submission. Proactive auditing reduces payer audit risk and supports provider education.

Lesson 3 • E/M Code Structure and Selection

Reviews E/M code categories, key components, and the two recognised selection methodologies. Foundational understanding prevents both undercoding and overcoding.

Lesson 4 • Documentation Requirements for E/M

Defines required elements in history, examination, and assessment/plan for each E/M level. Documentation gaps are the leading cause of E/M audit findings in podiatry.

Lesson 1 • Electronic Claim Submission Workflow

Covers electronic data interchange standards, clearinghouse roles, and submission batch management. Electronic submission is the standard pathway for all major payers.

Lesson 2 • Reading and Interpreting Remittance Advice

Teaches how to read electronic and paper remittance advice documents and apply adjustment codes. Remittance interpretation is the foundation of accurate payment posting.

Lesson 3 • Appeals Process and Reconsideration

Guides students through first-level appeals, peer-to-peer reviews, and external appeal escalation. Effective appeals recover revenue that would otherwise be written off.

Lesson 4 • Denial Categories and Root Causes

Classifies denials by type—eligibility, coding, medical necessity, and timely filing—and their root causes. Categorisation enables targeted process improvements to reduce denial volume.

Lesson 1 • Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Definitions

Distinguishes fraud, waste, and abuse with podiatry-specific examples and associated penalties. Clear definitions help staff recognise and avoid prohibited billing behaviours.

Lesson 2 • Responding to External Audits

Prepares students to respond to payer audits, recovery audits, and government programme reviews. Organised, timely responses minimise overpayment demands and legal exposure.

Lesson 3 • Healthcare Compliance Programme Essentials

Outlines the seven elements of an effective compliance programme and their application to podiatry practices. A functioning compliance programme is the primary defence against enforcement actions.

Lesson 4 • Internal Audit Methodology

Teaches how to design and execute a podiatry billing internal audit using statistical sampling. Regular internal audits detect errors before external reviewers identify them.