AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2005 Quarter 4; VOLUMES 1 AND 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Other Excessive Crying
A six-year-old child with cerebral palsy was seen in the emergency room for crying episodes of unknown etiology. No cause for the crying was found. A new code was created for excessive crying ( 780.92 ); however, this code specifically states, "excessive crying of infant (baby)." What is the appropriate diagnosis code for excessive crying in a child who is not an infant? ...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article covers a diagnosis code update effective October 1, 2005, focused on excessive crying in patients beyond infancy. It explains the purpose of the new code, notes its relationship to an earlier infant-only code, and includes a brief clinical vignette to illustrate the topic for coding reference.
Why This Topic Matters
Coders, CDI staff, and clinicians may encounter patients presenting with unexplained crying across different age groups. Understanding the update helps support accurate diagnosis code selection and avoids confusion between the infant-specific and broader symptom categories.
Article Sections
-
Code update and rationale
Introduces the new diagnosis code and describes the general context for why the update was added.
-
Relationship to the earlier infant-specific code
Summarizes how the newer symptom category relates to the preexisting infant-focused entry in the same family of terms.
-
Clinical example and coding question
Presents a brief case scenario and frames the coding question addressed by the article.
What You Will Learn
- The purpose of the diagnosis code update for excessive crying
- How the topic is differentiated across age groups
- What type of case scenario the article uses to illustrate the update
- How the article frames the coding question for this symptom presentation
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation integrity staff
- Health information management professionals
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com