Current Pedorthics | March-April 2016 | Vol.48, Issue 2 | Page 30

STANDARDS, SPECIFIC DETAILS & JEOPARDY Standards can be inadequate. The existence of a mandatory standard does not certify that it is always useful or correct. A given standard may not be adequate to facilitate it’s use. A standard is useful if it is a solution to a coordination problem, i.e., to have all parties acknowledge a point of agreement. Many HCPCS Level II orthotic and prosthetic procedures codes are not adequate. They do not provide coordinated understanding. HCPCS code L 2755 is an example. HCPCS code L 2755 cannot be knowledgeably fulfilled. You can view the code at (click on link below): "Webpage: HCPCS 2016 Code : L2755" HCPCS 2015 Code L2755 reads as follows: “Addition To Lower Extremity Orthosis, High Strength, Lightweight Material, All Hybrid Lamination/Prepreg Composite, Per Segment, For Custom Fabricated Orthosis Only” (the grammar and punctuation is as published online). Code L 2755 has an HCPCS long description and HCPCS short description. Many HCPCS Level II orthotic and prosthetic procedures codes are not adequate. They do not provide coordinated understanding. 28 Pedorthic Footcare Association www.pedorthics.org HCPCS code L 2755 inadequacy starts with the term: carbon graphite. The short definition of L 2755 specifies as above: carbon graphite lamination, and nothing else. Of the two available forms of carbon one is diamond, which is not stipulated. The second available form of carbon is graphite. Speculation; is the term “carbon graphite intended to indicate the form of carbon known as: graphite? Graphite in commodity form, is a type of coal. For HCPCS 2015 Code L 2755 the short form, what will you supply? Are you to “laminate”, (fix together or overlay) a fragment of coal with something that is unnamed, unspecified and then signify that the finished product is an HCPCS L2755? Further speculating, “laminate” a fragment of coal Photo from: @iStockphoto.com/robertprzybysz The HCPCS code L 2755 short description is as follows: “carbon graphite lamination.”