CPT 20605 Changes Coming?
Question: Is there going to be a change to the definition of CPT 20605 on 1/1/2027? I was told that CPT is changing the definition of CPT 20605. Is this true and what does the new wording say?
Response from Codinghelpline.com:
Effective on 1/1/2027, in the 2027 CPT book, the injection codes CPT 20605 and CPT 20606 have been revised as follows.
CPT 20605: Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (eg, temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, including carpometacarpal (CMC), elbow, or ankle, including tarsometatarsal (TMT), olecranon bursa); without ultrasound guidance
CPT 20606: Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (eg, temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, including carpometacarpal (CMC), elbow, or ankle, including tarsometatarsal (TMT), olecranon bursa); with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording and reporting.
There was often confusion as to where CPT 20600 ended and CPT 20605 started for some reason. With the updated information shown above, the anatomical delineation is now absolutely clear even though CPT codes always inferred this anatomical delineation. For example, any intermediate joint or bursal injection at the tarsometatarsal or proximally in the foot to the ankle includes these new added clarifying definitions depending on whether you utilize ultrasound or not.
It is best to always be prepared in your coding when the definition change that occurs on 1/1/2027.
—David J Freedman, DPM, CPC, CSFAC, CPMA
Additional coding and billing questions and responses can be found at www.Codinghelpline.com
—Reader Feedback—
What the Move Toward MIPS Value Pathways Means for Podiatry
Your recent item [scroll down] about CMS’s proposal to sunset traditional MIPS raises an important question: What would replace it, and what should podiatrists do to prepare?
MIPS Value Pathways, or MVPs, are already available. They organize reporting around particular specialties or clinical areas, with a narrower selection of quality measures and improvement activities. Thanks to APMA’s efforts, there is already a Podiatry MVP.
Under traditional MIPS, clinicians generally select six quality measures from a broad inventory. In practice, their choices often depend on which measures their EHR supports.
—Michael Brody, DPM
To read this entire letter, click the button below. To add your thoughts, email [email protected].
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You’re now receiving the podiatry sector’s newest source of timely and reliable information about everything from medical breakthroughs to practice management strategies. Share PM Pulse with your colleagues, and let us know how we can keep improving by emailing [email protected]
Social Media Post of the Day
Someone wrote to PM Pulse wondering whether they had chosen the wrong profession. Three weeks later, doctors are still writing in — and what's striking is how few of them agree, and the stories they share.
Paul Kesselman, DPM, answered first: "Life, like your career, is what you make it! So, if you are not happy in practice, find something that is more rewarding. But please don't trash your degree. That has nothing to do with your ability to move forward and succeed."
Robert V. Riccitelli, DPM, wrote in to back him: "All of us worked incredibly hard to become doctors, not simply to earn a living, but to give back to society through helping, healing, listening, and showing compassion to those who place their trust in us."
Then yesterday, a letter from someone who took a different path. Barry Mozenter, DPM, MMgmt, spent fifteen years in practice before studying management at nights and weekends, selling the practice, and moving into healthcare IT — where he has worked for nearly thirty years since.
His verdict on the degree: "Having a medical background was definitely an asset."
Different doctors, the same degree, different opinions and life experiences.
Where do you land on this one? 👇
From the Magazine—October ‘26 Preview
Where to Find That Policy—Part 1
Editor’s Note: This is part 1 of a 2-part article. The second part will run in our November/December issue.
A recent provider newsletter poll highlighted the fact that DPMs consider government (and other third party) regulations to be one of their greatest frustrations and toughest challenges. This will by no means be a revelation to any health care professional, podiatrist or otherwise. Some reports estimate that health care providers spend upwards of ten hours a week on documentation, just to meet the ever-growing compendium of regulatory guidelines.
Some quarter of a century ago, Medical Economics assured health care providers that all physicians had to do was the “best they could” with respect to adhering to regulatory requirements. Today, because of all the Federal, State and Private third-party regulations and clawbacks, doing the “best you can” is simply not good enough.
What portion of your patients are routine foot care?
What Rural Physicians Need to Stay Rural
For physicians in rural practice, the hardest gap to close may not be pay. It may be backup.
Nearly two-thirds of current rural clinicians (65 percent) said they lack adequate specialist and colleague backup, according to a report from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com. That was a wider deficit than compensation, which 42 percent said did not fairly reflect their scope, call and workload.
Source: Medical Economics
Figuring Out Jobs After Residency
If you are in your last year of training, you already know the question. Someone asks it at every family dinner, every conference, every coffee break, and apparently every time an attending makes small talk while you are trying to close. “So, what’s next?” Or the deluxe version: “What do you want?”
It is probably my least favorite question, mostly because my immediate internal response is, “I DON’T KNOW!” Obviously, I do know what is immediately next. I am planning to pursue fellowship next year, where I will refine my surgical skills, learn from people who have been doing this much longer than I have, and hopefully emerge on the other side feeling slightly more prepared to be a real adult surgeon.
Source: Savannah Santiago, DPM, PRESENT Podiatry
Why Diabetes Patients Miss Out on Dietitians and Foot Care
More than one in ten adults worldwide now lives with diabetes, and roughly half of them receive no medication to control their blood glucose at all. Yet even within well-resourced health systems, two of the most basic pillars of diabetes care—personalized nutrition therapy and professional foot assessment—are routinely missed. A new national survey of Australian health professionals, published in BMC Endocrine Disorders, has mapped precisely where the system breaks down, and the findings paint a picture of a care pathway undermined not by a lack of clinical guidelines but by conflicting advice, cost barriers, and a widespread under-appreciation of what allied health services actually deliver.
Source: Bioengineer.org
Free Virtual Webinar—Practice Academy: Physicians’ Track
The Medical Economics Practice Academy—Thursday, November 19, 1:00-5:00 ET—is a virtual learning experience built specifically for physicians who want to build stronger practices and stronger personal careers.
The program delivers practical, real-world education you can apply immediately, covering the strategies, tools, and insights physicians need to strengthen patient collections, improve the financial experience, and build long-term personal wealth. From revenue cycle performance and patient payment workflows to lifestyle management, investing discipline, and career optionality, sessions tackle the financial pressures that shape both the practice and the physician behind it. Click the button below for more information or to register.
Source: Medical Economics
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PM Pulse wants to hear from you! Submit your questions, concerns, and opinions to [email protected] to share and receive feedback from your colleagues and peers about all aspects of the podiatry sector. All submissions must meet our standards for professionalism and decorum, and submissions may be edited for length and clarity. Still have questions? Send us an email.
PM Pulse Classified Ads
30-Year Podiatry Practice: Kansas City, Missouri
Priced below appraisal. Established hospital-campus practice with strong referrals and 25,000 patient records. Fully equipped with digital X-ray and EMR. Staff staying on. Open four days, with demand for five. Retiring physician will assist with transition. A rare turnkey opportunity. Confidential inquiries: [email protected]
Traveling Podiatrist Needed—New York
Seeking a podiatrist for full-time or part-time work traveling to locations throughout New York, primarily assisted living facilities. Provide foot and ankle care. Starting pay: $100–$120 per hour, plus performance-based bonuses. Travel and gas expenses compensated. To apply, please call (516) 482-7775, option 5, ask for Avi for more information.
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