Each of the DME MACs have created webpages that offer podiatrists and other DME suppliers access to useful Medicare information.  The “Portals” requires individual registration and uses a personal log-in.  They offer different levels of accessibility and also protects patient personal health information.  Presently Jurisdictions A and D are serviced by Noridian; Jurisdictions B and C are serviced by CGS. Podiatrists are encouraged to register for the Portals corresponding to the region(s) where their patients reside and to also create access for appropriate s ..read more

  Medicare is now differentiating between custom diabetic inserts fabricated by direct milling and those made by custom molding. Medicare requires that custom diabetic inserts made by CAD / CAM direct milling be billed using new code A5514 when dispensed, replacing K0903, effective January 1, 2019. Inserts provided by SafeStep are made in this way. If SafeStep does your billing, everything will be taken care of for you. If you submit claims yourself or via a billing service, be sure to start using the new custom insert code, A5514. Both methods of manufacturing result in equivalent final ..read more

Thirty-four million Americans have diabetes. The disease will likely be a lifelong struggle for most of these people. While they may have to deal with it for the rest of their lives, they must remember that managing diabetes (and monitoring their foot health) is possible and encouraged. Read on to learn what your patients need to know in order to protect their diabetic feet. Inspect Feet Daily Your patients need to remember to check their feet every day for any changes that might occur. It’s important to monitor sores on the feet and look for signs of infection. Infections in d ..read more

Diabetic Footwear helps prevent the continued wear of the feet and helps to decelerate the breakdown of the plantar fascia. You may be wondering, what is diabetic footwear? This article will help you understand what diabetic footwear is and how it differs from regular footwear. What is Diabetic Footwear?  Diabetes causes various health and physical ailments to those who suffer from it. One of the primary side effects of diabetes is moderate to severe nerve damage. Diabetics often experience and suffer from nerve damage to their feet. This causes them to lose feeling as well as l ..read more

Every 1 in 10 people is suffering from diabetes. This means every person with this health condition needs to worry about what they eat, drink, and most importantly what they wear on their feet. It can be easy for Diabetic patients to overlook the importance of footwear, but we need to remind them that it should be a daily priority. Before the footwear comes socks, diabetic patients need to know what types of socks they should and should not be wearing. This article will give you all the answers to the question, “What are diabetic socks?” and points you in the right direction for diabetic footw ..read more

Good news! On January 1, 2020, Medicare increased the amount it pays for diabetic shoes, Moore Balance Brace and Arizona custom AFOs. While the amounts paid may vary slightly by state, the National Fee Schedule is as follows: Depth Shoes (A5500): pair $147.74 Prefabricated, Heat Molded Inserts (A5512): pair $60.26 Custom Milled Inserts (A5514): pair $89.92 Depth Shoes w/3 pr. Prefab, Heat Molded Inserts: $328.52 Depth Shoes w/3 pr. Custom Molded Inserts: $417.50 Custom Molded Shoes w/offset heels and rocker bottoms: $585.26 Arizona AFO, Standard (L1940, L2330, L2820): each – Ceiling $1216.57 ..read more

The Internet-based PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System) can be used in lieu of the Medicare enrollment application (i.e., paper CMS-855) to: Submit an initial Medicare enrollment application View or change your enrollment information Track your enrollment application through the web submission process Add or change a reassignment of benefits Submit changes to existing Medicare enrollment information Reactivate an existing enrollment record Withdraw from the Medicare Program Submit a Change of Ownership (CHOW) of the Medicare-enrolled provider Advantages of Internet-based P ..read more

Good news! On January 1, 2019, Medicare increased the amount it pays for diabetic shoes, Moore Balance Brace and Arizona custom AFOs. While the amounts paid may vary slightly by state, the National Fee Schedule is as follows: Depth Shoes (A5500): pair $146.42 Prefabricated, Heat Molded Inserts (A5512): pair $59.72 Custom Milled Inserts (A5514): pair $89.12 Depth Shoes w/3 pr. Prefab, Heat Molded Inserts: $325.36 Depth Shoes w/3 pr. Custom Molded Inserts: $413.78 Custom Molded Shoes w/offset heels and rocker bottoms: $656.62 Arizona AFO, Standard (L1940, L2330, L2820): each – Ceiling $1178.61 ..read more