Recently Providers and researchers have asked me how they can help. Here is a list of questions. Don’t feel like you need to answer them all.
- Which ICD-10 code do they use for lipedema: R60.9, Edema, Q82.0 Familial Hereditary Edema, or E88.2: Adiposis dolorosa; Lipomatosis dolorosa (Dercum’s disease)?
- Do they use the four lipectomy codes (15876, 15877, 15878, 15879) or an unlisted code (38999)?
- How do they address comorbidities? Which ones are the most common?
- Please promote our website and the reimbursement guidebook. You can share a link to the www.lipoforlipedemareimbursement.com website or copy and paste the information to your website. We just want it available.
- What do you need or what do you think would help get liposuction for lipedema reimbursed by a healthcare carrier?
- Discuss the twelve-step plan; get feedback.
- Discuss the reimbursement checklist; get feedback.
- Confirm and rank medical necessity arguments for liposuction for lipedema; cite research.
- Download a copy of the Reimbursement Guideline and have someone on their staff read it.
- A specific carrier that paid and date for reimbursement would be good.
- Any feedback on how they got paid. What did they submit? How many specialists? The list of questions is in both the 12-step plan and checklist above.
- If the Provider has a patient that cannot self-pay, forward the patient to our website; ask them to forward their insurance company and plan to us. We won’t be able to work them all but for now if we could get a half-dozen working cases perhaps we could start there–with actual claims.
- Help us with our research list; rank the best research. I can send a list.
- Lobby their professional association with our numerous recommendations concerning verbiage and making clear distinctions between cosmetic liposuction and reconstructive liposuction. Share with other surgeons that liposuction for lipedema is paid by over a dozen carriers, today, in a published policy.