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Cardiology Coding Alert

Part 1:

Diagnosis Coding: 394.x-398.x or 424.x? Decision Becomes Simpler When Multiple Valve Rule Is Clear

Published on Fri May 13, 2011

You can't afford to assume the 'Rheumatic' range applies only to rheumatic cases.Finding the correct diagnosis code for a patient with a valve disorder isn't always simple, but you can pinpoint the correct ICD-9 code if you know the nature of the problem and whether more than one valve is involved.Common valve disorders -- often connected to heart murmurs -- include stenosis (a narrowing of the valve that interferes with the valve opening) and insufficiency or regurgitation (when the valve doesn't close).When coding valve disorders, you should be sure to check the index of your ICD-9 manual first and then read the code descriptions for guidance, including references to other codes. Includes and excludes notes with the codes are also crucial for understanding which diagnoses do and don't fall under the code.Determine the Role of 'Rheumatic'The first step in coding a valve disorder is to determine the problem's origin because that will [...]
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