Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: The patient is seen in the hospital for a 410.31, and then is discharged. The patient is scheduled to be seen in the office for a follow-up visit. For this follow-up visit, which is less than 8 weeks from the myocardial infarction, is it appropriate to use the fifth digit of "2" on the MI (410.32), or would you still use 410.31?Codify MemberAnswer: You should use 410.32 (Acute myocardial infarction of inferoposterior wall; subsequent episode of care) for this follow-up visit. ICD-9 notes with the 410.xx fifth digit options state that you should "use fifth-digit 2 to designate an episode of care following the initial episode when the patient is admitted for further observation, evaluation or treatment for a myocardial infarction that has received initial treatment, but is still less than 8 weeks old."You should report 410.31 (Acute myocardial infarction of inferoposterior wall; initial episode of care) only during [...]