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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

You Be the Coder:

CHARGE Syndrome

Published on Thu Nov 01, 2001

Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.

Question: I am filing a claim that includes the physician's diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome. I have never come across this syndrome before. What is it and how do I report it?

Arizona Subscriber

Answer: CHARGE syndrome refers to children with a specific set of birth defects. The name comes from the first letter of some of the most common features seen in these children:
 
Coloboma of the eyes,
Heart defects,
Atresia of the choanae,
Retardation of growth and development,
Genital and urinary abnormalities (in males), and
Ear abnormalities and/or hearing loss.
 
A diagnosis of CHARGE in a child is based on finding several of these symptoms as well as other features. The diagnosis code for CHARGE syndrome is 759.89 (other specified congenital anomaly). Separate codes should be assigned for each feature of the syndrome notated by the physician.

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