Coding for Pressure Ulcers  

Category: Coding

Pressure ulcers (also called pressure sores or bed sores) are areas of skin that break down when you stay in one position for too long without shifting your weight. Depending on how a physician treats the ulcer will depend on how it is coded and billed. This article will address the formation of pressure ulcers, treatment of pressure ulcers, and coding of pressure ulcers.

Pressure Ulcers
A pressure ulcer starts as reddened skin but gets progressively worse, forming a blister, then an open sore, and finally a crater. The most common places for pressure ulcers are over bony prominences (bones close to the skin) like the elbow, heels, hips, ankles, shoulders, back, and the back of the head. Anatomically, the buttock region is by far the most common area for pressure sores to develop. These account for over 70% of all occurrences, with sacral (46%) and ischial ...