Re: Knee contracture bracing
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Knee contracture bracing
Text:
April 24, 2000
Eileen Levis
Administrator
H J Lawall & Son
Dear Eileen:
Thank you for your post on Friday.
Please note the following to help clarify this issue:
1) DMERC region A, B, C, and D all issued a uniform DMERC policy SPECIFYING
the use of L2999 in their June 1999 update to the Supplier Manual for
functional use of a concentric adjustable torsion mechanism. Therefore,
using L2999 properly is not fraudulent.
2) It is important not to think of Ultraflex as one type of component or
application. Ultraflex technology includes static components for weight
bearing support, assist components and other modular static/assist components
for a variety of traditional clinical applications (for the elbow, wrist,
MCPs, hip, knee and ankle - adult & pediatric). They are routinely
prescribed to stabilize, align and protect joints, as well as assist desired
movements during rehab and functional use.
3) The Region A ombudsman visited Ultraflex’s facility on November 5, 1999
and was inserviced on the breadth of our technology and its many clinical
applications to further clarify Region A’s understanding of the above facts.
In accordance with all Medicare Carrier Policy, Ultraflex’s suggested coding
recommendations are driven by each patient’s diagnosis and custom brace
design. If the custom brace incorporating Ultraflex joints (static, assist
or modular static/assist) is prescribed to protect, support, stabilize or
assist movement during rehab or functional use, L codes most certainly do
apply. (Note: please make sure the L codes billed accurately describe the
prescribed brace function and its actual design/fabrication!).
We do not recommend use of Ultraflex assist components for Medicare nursing
home residents’ with established contractures. Accordingly, Ultraflex makes
no billing suggestions for this application at all.
Finally, Ultraflex never recommends renting or re-using custom braces for
reasons of patient health and safety. Again, thank you for your post.
Sincerely,
Mark D. DeHarde
Eileen Levis
Administrator
H J Lawall & Son
Dear Eileen:
Thank you for your post on Friday.
Please note the following to help clarify this issue:
1) DMERC region A, B, C, and D all issued a uniform DMERC policy SPECIFYING
the use of L2999 in their June 1999 update to the Supplier Manual for
functional use of a concentric adjustable torsion mechanism. Therefore,
using L2999 properly is not fraudulent.
2) It is important not to think of Ultraflex as one type of component or
application. Ultraflex technology includes static components for weight
bearing support, assist components and other modular static/assist components
for a variety of traditional clinical applications (for the elbow, wrist,
MCPs, hip, knee and ankle - adult & pediatric). They are routinely
prescribed to stabilize, align and protect joints, as well as assist desired
movements during rehab and functional use.
3) The Region A ombudsman visited Ultraflex’s facility on November 5, 1999
and was inserviced on the breadth of our technology and its many clinical
applications to further clarify Region A’s understanding of the above facts.
In accordance with all Medicare Carrier Policy, Ultraflex’s suggested coding
recommendations are driven by each patient’s diagnosis and custom brace
design. If the custom brace incorporating Ultraflex joints (static, assist
or modular static/assist) is prescribed to protect, support, stabilize or
assist movement during rehab or functional use, L codes most certainly do
apply. (Note: please make sure the L codes billed accurately describe the
prescribed brace function and its actual design/fabrication!).
We do not recommend use of Ultraflex assist components for Medicare nursing
home residents’ with established contractures. Accordingly, Ultraflex makes
no billing suggestions for this application at all.
Finally, Ultraflex never recommends renting or re-using custom braces for
reasons of patient health and safety. Again, thank you for your post.
Sincerely,
Mark D. DeHarde
Citation
“Re: Knee contracture bracing,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/214225.
