Advanced Search

Cardiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Connect Elevated Creatine Kinase to 790.5

Published on Thu Aug 27, 2009

Question: The only reason documented for a cath lab service is "elevated creatine kinase." Which ICD-9 code is appropriate? Nebraska Subscriber Answer: You should use nonspecific code 790.5 (Other nonspecific abnormal serum enzyme levels) to report these elevated creatine kinase levels. MI connection: Enzyme levels may rise in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms, so physicians may send these patients to the catheterization lab to check for MI. But remember you shouldn't report an MI code (such as 410.xx, Acute myocardial infarction) unless the cardiologist documents that diagnosis. -- You Be the Coder and Reader Questions prepared with the assistance of Jim Collins, CCC, CPC, ACS-CA, CHCC, president of CardiologyCoder.Com.
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 your eNewsletter
  • 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
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Cardiology Coding Alert

View All