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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Questions:

You Can't Code Everything Chronic

Published on Tue Aug 19, 2008

Question: If the patient has a chronic condition, such as mitral valve disorder, should I report that diagnosis even when the physician is not specifically treating it? Arizona Subscriber Answer: You would report the mitral valve disorder only if the physician noted that it was relevant to the patient's presentation. For instance, a 69-year-old male with mitral regurgitation presents with a traumatic ankle sprain; in this case, the mitral valve disorder is not relevant to the presentation. However, if the patient presents with dyspnea and a worsening murmur, the mitral valve disorder is clinically relevant and could be reported.
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