AMA CPT® Assistant - 2016 Issue 12 (December)
Revised Bunionectomy Coding for 2017 (December 2016)
December 2016 pages 3-8 Revised Bunionectomy Coding for 2017 Hallux valgus (bunion) is a common forefoot deformity, which typically comprised of a bony prominence at the distal metaphysis (head) of the first metatarsal, lateral deviation of the great toe (hallux) at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and valgus rotation of the hallux. When symptomatic, this deformity may result in pain, difficulty wearing shoes, and limitation in weight-bearing activities. With over 100 variations of procedures described, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) bunionectomy codes are distinguished not only by the severity of the bunion deformity and specific contributing deformities or pathology, but...
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Article Overview
This premium article explains the 2017 update to CPT guidance for bunionectomy-related procedures and nearby forefoot joint procedures. It is intended for coding professionals, billers, and clinical documentation teams who need a broad understanding of how the revised hallux valgus and hallux rigidus content is organized, what anatomy and procedure categories are discussed, and which code families were affected.
Why This Topic Matters
Forefoot surgery coding changed for 2017, and this article helps readers understand the scope of the revisions and the procedural groupings involved so they can evaluate whether the full guidance is relevant to their practice or claims workflow.
Article Sections
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December 2016 pages 3-8
Publication information and article context for the 2017 coding update.
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Revised Bunionectomy Coding for 2017
Overview of the anatomic and procedural scope of hallux valgus and related forefoot surgery coding in CPT 2017.
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Bunion Etiology
General factors associated with development of hallux valgus deformity are discussed.
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Types of Bunion Deformities
Broad categories of deformity patterns and associated pathology are outlined.
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Surgical Coding of Bunion Deformity Correction and Related Pathology
The article describes the overall structure of CPT bunionectomy coding and the types of intraoperative components considered in this family.
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Reporting Hallux Valgus (Bunionectomy) Correction
This section presents the revised hallux valgus procedure code family and discusses how the related coding set is organized for 2017.
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NonBunionectomy-Related Procedures
Related forefoot procedures outside the bunionectomy family are reviewed for comparison and context.
What You Will Learn
- How the 2017 CPT update organizes bunionectomy-related procedures
- What broad anatomic and deformity categories are discussed in hallux valgus coding
- Which related forefoot procedure families are covered alongside bunionectomy coding
- How the article frames the relationship between bunionectomy and hallux rigidus procedures
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Orthopedic practice staff
- Podiatry billing staff
- Clinical documentation improvement teams
Codes Discussed
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