Advanced Search

Cardiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

396.x OK Even When Not 'Rheumatic'

Published on Sun Jan 16, 2011

Question: I code for echocardiography. Codes 396.3 and 396.8 are listed under the header "Chronic Rheumatic Heart Disease," but the actual code says, "multiple involvement of aortic and mitral valves, whether specified as rheumatic or not." This is a bit confusing. Is it correct to use this code for patients even with no mention of chronic rheumatic heart disease?Answer: Yes. As you state, the "Includes" note under 396.x (Disease of mitral and aortic valves) says, "Includes: involvement of both mitral and aortic valves, whether specified as rheumatic or not." According to ICD-9 guidelines, the "includes" note is there "to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category."Translation: All of the 396.x codes, including 396.3 (Mitral valve insufficiency and aortic valve insufficiency) and 396.8 (Multiple involvement of mitral and aortic valves), are appropriate for patients documented as having rheumatic heart disease and for patients whose charts show no [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Cardiology Coding Alert

View All