Podiatry Class Findings

by  Wyn Staheli, Director of Research
February 11th, 2017

The following modifiers are required when reporting medically necessary routine foot care services per Medicare guidelines:

• Q7: One Class A finding
• Q8: Two Class B findings
• Q9: One Class B and two Class C findings

Usage:

• Appropriate: With foot care (podiatry) codes to indicate covered foot care
• Inappropriate:
• With any code not related to foot care
• When the foot care is routine and does not meet CMS medical necessity guidelines

Definitions

Class A Findings (Q7)

• Non traumatic amputation of foot or integral skeletal portion thereof

Class B Findings (Q8)

• Absent posterior tibial pulse
• Absent dorsalis pedis pulse
• Advanced trophic changes; three of the following are required:
• hair growth (decrease or absence)
• nail changes (thickening)
• pigmentary changes (discoloration)
• skin texture (thin, shiny)
• skin color (rubor or redness)

Class C Findings (Q9)

• Claudication
• Temperature changes
• Edema
• Paresthesia
• Burning