Changes to Bunionectomy CPTs

New coding guidelines for podiatry took effect on 1/1/17 that may change the way you report your bunionecto- my procedures. Several codes have been deleted, and the definitions of the rest have been edited. Under the new guidelines, the following codes been can no longer be reported:

28290 (simple exostectomy/Silver type procedure) 28293 (resection of joint with implant)
28294 (with tendon transplants/Joplin type procedure)

Of the remaining codes, please note that bunionectomy by metatarsal osteotomy has now been split into two codes (28295 and 28296) depending on location (proximal or distal). The full descriptions for the reportable bunionectomy codes are as follows:

28289: Hallux rigidus correction w/ cheilectomy, debridement and capsular release of 1st MJP, without implant 28291: Hallux rigidus correction w/ cheilectomy, debridement and capsular release of 1st MPJ, with implant

28292: Hallux valgus correction by resection of proximal phalanx base, sesamoidectomy when performed

28295: Hallux valgus correction by proximal metatarsal osteotomy, sesamoidectomy when performed

28296: Hallux valgus correction by distal metatarsal osteotomy, sesamoidectomy when performed

28297: Hallux valgus correction by metatarsal and medial cuneiform arthrodesis, sesamoidectomy when per- formed

28298: Hallux valgus correction by proximal phalanx osteotomy, sesamoidectomy when performed
28299: Hallux valgus correction by double osteotomy, any combined method, sesamoidectomy when performed