Anesthesia Coding Alert

Heads up: Don’t forget to include an outcome code.

When you report the unspecified cesarean delivery code in ICD-10, you’ll have one option — but don’t stop with a single code. 

A cesarean delivery means the physician makes one or more incisions through the mother’s abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies. Currently, you will choose a cesarean delivery code from one of two options in ICD-9:

• 669.70 — Cesarean delivery, without mention of indication, unspecified as to episode of care or not applicable
• 669.71 — Cesarean delivery, without mention of indication, delivered, with or without antepartum condition.

ICD-10: In the future, you’ll use only one option: O82 (Encounter for cesarean delivery without indication). In other words, your two cesarean delivery codes “without indication” become one code in ICD-10: O82.

Here’s how you’ll locate these codes in ICD-10’s Alphabetic Index:

Admission (for) - see also Encounter (for)

- delivery, full-term, uncomplicated O80

-- cesarean, without indication O82

Delivery (childbirth) (labor)

- cesarean (for)

-- without indication O82

Encounter (with health service) (for)

- delivery, full-term, uncomplicated O80

-- cesarean, without indication O82

Coding tip: Remember to also include a delivery code from the appropriate procedure classification. If required by the payer, you must include an outcome of delivery code (Z37.0).