M79.5 — Residual foreign body in soft tissue
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
No active coverage policies found for this code (low confidence)
Documentation Required
- The medical record must clearly document that the coverage indications, limitations, and medical necessity criteria in L37228 Wound Care have been met for any billed wound care item or service.
- Documentation must support the specific CPT/HCPCS code(s) billed, including procedure details, depth and surface area for debridement codes, and rationale for the service.
- When hydrotherapy (whirlpool) is billed with CPT 97597 or 97598, the record must state why hydrotherapy was necessary to remove devitalized/necrotic tissue and that a therapist's skill was required to perform the service.
- If CPT 97597 or 97598 is billed by a therapist while the patient is under a Home Health benefit, coverage depends on inclusion in the Home Health plan of care; if billed by a physician or non-physician practitioner it is paid under Part B even if the beneficiary has an active Home Health plan.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Traditional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices, units, and supplies are covered under the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) benefit when they meet DME LCD coverage criteria and medical necessity.
- CPT codes 97597, 97598, and wound debridement codes 11042-11047 may be covered when the medical record documents medical necessity consistent with L37228 Wound Care criteria and Medicare reasonable-and-necessary requirements.
- Nonvascular extremity ultrasound is covered when medical necessity is documented in the patient's record, including relevant medical history, physical examination, and results of pertinent diagnostic tests or procedures.
- Diagnostic nonvascular extremity ultrasound is covered when the claim includes an ICD-10-CM diagnosis code that best describes the patient's condition and the test result or the symptoms prompting the test are documented.
- Coverage for amniotic and placental-derived product injections/applications for musculoskeletal, non-wound indications is determined by Local Coverage Determination L39139; consult LCD L39139 for specific clinical indications and thresholds.
- Trigger point injections (TPIs) reported with CPT 20552 (1–2 muscles) or CPT 20553 (3+ muscles) are covered when determined medically reasonable and necessary per the applicable Local Coverage Determination (LCD).
20 Active Policies
A59553 — Billing and Coding: Trigger Point Injections
J05
A55909 — Billing and Coding: Wound Care
J05
L39713 — Trigger Point Injections
J05
A59434 — Billing and Coding: Amniotic and Placental-Derived Product Injections and/or Applications for Musculoskeletal Indications, Non-Wound
J05
Related Codes
Have a follow-up question?
Ask Verity about documentation requirements, denial risks, or coverage in your state.