Diabetes Coding Quiz: Think You Know How to Code Diabetes and Its Complications?

Diagnosis coding for diabetes and its associated complications is among the toughest tasks endocrinology coders face. Take our quiz to determine whether you have what it takes to assign the appropriate diabetes ICD-9 code. Answers on page 30.
1. In addition to the appropriate diabetes code (250.xx), which V code should you report for the follow-up visits associated with an insulin pump?
a. V65.46 -- Encounter for insulin pump training
b. V53.91 -- Fitting and adjustment of insulin pump
c. V45.85 -- Insulin pump status
2. Which fourth digit in the 250.xx series (Diabetes mellitus) indicates diabetes with ketoacidosis?
a. 1     
b. 3     
c. 6
3. Which fifth digit in the 250.xx series (Diabetes mellitus) describes a type II, controlled diabetic?
a. 2     
b. 0     
c. 3
4. To code for a patient with type I diabetes with glaucoma complications, in which order do you report the two necessary codes?
a. 250.51 first, 365.44 second     
b. 365.44 first, 250.51 second
5. If your endocrinologist treats a diabetic patient with four chronic manifestations -- renal, ophthalmic, neurological and circulatory -- which 250.xx code should you list as the primary diagnosis for the hospital-based patient?
a. The first manifestation the physician treats
b. The main manifestation the physician treats
c. List them all
6. Which code should you report as the primary diagnosis if a woman has an established diabetes diagnosis that is now complicating her pregnancy?
a. 648.8     
b. 648.0     
c. 250.xx

- Published on 2004-05-20