Gastroenterology Coding Alert

New diagnosis codes for constipation and esophagitis top the list of ICD-9 changes for 2002 of interest to gastroenterologists. CMS announced that the new codes may be used on medical claims as early as Oct. 1, 2001. Use of the codes is not mandatory until Jan. 2, 2002.
 
Gastroenterology practices may want to put off implementation of the new codes until January 2002, because many Medicare carriers and private payers will not have their computer systems updated until then. Last year, many Gastroenterology Coding Alert readers complained that their claims containing the new diagnosis codes were rejected until the beginning of the mandatory-use period.
 
The following is a list of new and revised diagnosis codes that will be commonly used in gastroenterology. A complete list of changes is available online at www.hcfa.gov/pubforms/transmit/AB0191.pdf.

New codes:
 

530.12 acute esophagitis
 

564.00 constipation, unspecified
 

564.01 slow transit constipation
 

564.02 outlet dysfunction constipation
 

564.09 other constipation

Revised codes:
 

558 other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis Revised to include the term "unspecified"
 

558.9 other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis Revised to exclude diarrhea, dietetic or noninfectious
 

575.8 other specified disorders of gallbladder Revised to exclude Hartmann's pouch of intestine (V44.3)
 

787 symptoms involving digestive system Revised to exclude new diagnosis codes for constipation (564.00-564.09)
 

787.9 Other symptoms involving digestive system Revised to exclude new diagnosis codes for constipation (564.00-564.09).