tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2010 Issue 8

Reader Questions: If Cancer's Still Present, Ignore 'History of' Codes

Question: At what point should I report a "history of" code instead of the actual cancer diagnosis?Ohio SubscriberAnswer: If the patient's treatment is completed, the medical record reflects no instances of recurrence, and the ED physician documents no sign of reoccurrence, using a "history of" diagnosis would be appropriate if it bears on and is relevant to the patient's treatment.ICD-9 coding guidelines specify that the personal "history of" codes "explain a patient's past medical condition that no longer exists and is not receiving any treatment, but that has the potential for recurrence, and therefore may require continued...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert.

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.