Desirae Cook asked:
I am having a hard time with this. The CPT book states; under application of casts and strapping; that if casting is provided as an initial service in which no other procedure or treatment is performed by an individual rendering the initial care only _use the casting/strapping code in additon to an e/m code as appropriate_.
So if a patient comes into the ER with a radius fracture and the nurse applies a long arm OCL splint - can the facility charge for the splint application (29105)? Or; is the splint application included in the facility e/m code when placed by the ER nurse?
Answer:
### May 2009 page 8
Surgery: Musculoskeletal System; 29505; 29105 (Q&A)
Question: How do you code the application of knee and shoulder immobilizers? Is it accurate to say that a knee immobilizer is a splint and a shoulder immobilizer is considered strapping?
Answer: The application or the fitting of the immobilizer is not reported when the actual immobilizer is described and reported with a HCPCS II code. The HCPCS II codes typically include the process of fitting or application. If CPT code [99070](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=99070) is reported to describe the immobilizer; then the appropriate splint code in the [29000](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=29000) series would be reported. The application of the immobilizer by a physician is included in the Evaluation and Management service performed and would not be reported separately. Both a knee immobilizer and a shoulder immobilizer are considered splints and are described by codes [29505](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=29505) or [29105](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=29105). Strapping is the creating of the mechanism that performs the immobilization; not the use; fitting; or training for the application of durable medical
equipment. Splint application requires creation of the splint.
Surgery: Musculoskeletal System; 29505; 29105 (Q&A). _CPT?
I am having a hard time with this. The CPT book states; under application of casts and strapping; that if casting is provided as an initial service in which no other procedure or treatment is performed by an individual rendering the initial care only _use the casting/strapping code in additon to an e/m code as appropriate_.
So if a patient comes into the ER with a radius fracture and the nurse applies a long arm OCL splint - can the facility charge for the splint application (29105)? Or; is the splint application included in the facility e/m code when placed by the ER nurse?
Answer:
### May 2009 page 8
Surgery: Musculoskeletal System; 29505; 29105 (Q&A)
Question: How do you code the application of knee and shoulder immobilizers? Is it accurate to say that a knee immobilizer is a splint and a shoulder immobilizer is considered strapping?
Answer: The application or the fitting of the immobilizer is not reported when the actual immobilizer is described and reported with a HCPCS II code. The HCPCS II codes typically include the process of fitting or application. If CPT code [99070](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=99070) is reported to describe the immobilizer; then the appropriate splint code in the [29000](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=29000) series would be reported. The application of the immobilizer by a physician is included in the Evaluation and Management service performed and would not be reported separately. Both a knee immobilizer and a shoulder immobilizer are considered splints and are described by codes [29505](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=29505) or [29105](https://www.findacode.com/code.php?set=CPT&c=29105). Strapping is the creating of the mechanism that performs the immobilization; not the use; fitting; or training for the application of durable medical
equipment. Splint application requires creation of the splint.
Surgery: Musculoskeletal System; 29505; 29105 (Q&A). _CPT?
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