tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2020 Issue Q2

Reader Question: Properly Sequence External Cause

Question: When and how should we use external cause codes? SuperCoder Subscriber Answer: You should use ICD-10-CM external cause codes as secondary codes when the additional information about the patient’s condition is relevant to treatment and patient care. You should never sequence an external cause code as the first-listed or principal diagnosis, according to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. External cause codes can tell healthcare providers treating the patient the following helpful information: Cause: The code can explain how the injury or health condition happened. For example: A horse struck the patient and injured the...

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