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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Questions:

Use E-V Code Combo to Code 'Injury-Free' E/Ms

Published on Sun Apr 25, 2010

Question: A substantial number of people who report to our ED after auto accidents end up having no injuries. How do we code for these patients, without a definitive diagnosis?Tennessee SubscriberAnswer: You should append at least the following diagnosis codes to the E/M code to ensure that you'll be paid for these "injury-free" patients:V71.4 (Observation and evaluation for suspected conditions not found; observation following other accident) to represent the reason for the presentation the appropriate E code to represent the MVA For example, a 68-year-old patient reports to the ED after being the driver in a low-speed MVA; he ran off the side of the road, then overcompensated and hit another car. The patient reports no outward symptoms but "wanted to make sure." A qualified nonphysician practitioner (NPP) performs an expanded problemfocused history and exam but finds nothing wrong with the patient.On the claim, report the following:99283 (Emergency department visit [...]
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