AMA CPT® Assistant - 2014 Issue 6 (June)
Active Wound-Care Management: Low-Frequency Ultrasound (June 2014)
June 2014 page 11 Active Wound-Care Management: Low-Frequency Ultrasound Effective January 2014, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Category III code 0183T was converted to a Category I code 97610, Low frequency, non-contact, non-thermal ultrasound, including topical application(s), when performed, wound assessment, and instruction(s) for ongoing care, per day. Low-frequency ultrasound (LFU) wound therapy is performed when there may not be an option to restore adequate blood flow alternatives using alternative percutaneous or surgical revascularization procedures.1 This type of therapeutic, noncontact ultrasound is used to treat various types of chronic wounds including: (1) recalcitrant wounds; (2) pressure ulcers; (3)...
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Article Overview
This article reviews a 2014 CPT update affecting low-frequency ultrasound wound therapy and places it in the broader context of wound-care management. It is useful for coders, billers, and clinical documentation staff who need to understand the topic area, the related CPT code set changes, and the surrounding guidance discussed in the article, including service setting, comparison with other wound-care procedures, and a representative clinical example.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate coding for wound-care services depends on understanding where low-frequency ultrasound fits among other procedures and how CPT updates may affect reporting. This article helps readers orient themselves to the procedure category, the documentation context, and the broader wound-care concepts referenced in the CPT Assistant discussion.
Article Sections
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June 2014 page 11
Publication header identifying the issue and page context.
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Active Wound-Care Management: Low-Frequency Ultrasound
Overview of the wound-care topic and the CPT-related update discussed in the article.
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Coding Tip
General notes on service setting, staffing, and how the topic relates to other wound-care services.
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Coding Tip
Additional general guidance about timing and separate reporting of other wound-care services around the therapy discussed.
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Clinical Example (97610)
A representative patient scenario illustrating the article topic.
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Description of Procedure (97610)
A procedural walkthrough of the therapy and documentation steps described in the example.
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Glossary of Terms Associated with LFU
Definitions of general wound-care and healing terminology associated with the topic.
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References
Source citations supporting the article content.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames low-frequency ultrasound within active wound-care management
- What type of CPT update is discussed and why it is relevant to coding
- What broader wound-care topics and terminology are associated with the discussion
- What kinds of documentation and clinical context are highlighted in the example and procedure narrative
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding educators
- Billing staff
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Wound-care clinicians
Codes Discussed
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