UNLESS THE FUNGUS INFECTION IN A NAIL REQUIRES DEBRIDEMENT BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE NAIL TO BE ABNORMALLY THICK WHICH RESULTED IN EITHER PAIN OR A SECONDARY INFECTION OR A MARKED LIMITATION OF WALKING, THE TREATMENT SERVICE IS CONSIDERED SIMPLY A NAIL TRIMMING AND IS NOT PAYABLE BY MEDICARE.
Peripheral Neuropathy is the most common factor leading to amputation in people with diabetes. In diabetes, peripheral neuropathy is an anatomically diffuse process primarily affecting sensory and autonomic fibers.
Routine Foot Care, which includes trimming or debridement of the asymptomatic, dystrophic, mycotic, or normal toenails are covered by Medicare only when the patient has one of the Medicare-specified systemic diseases with clinically significant peripheral complications placing the patient “At Risk” for infection and/or injury if a non-professional attempts to trim or debride the nail.