Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Question: Our gastroenterologist was on rounds at the hospital and was called to evaluate a newborn. He diagnosed her with a bleeding peptic ulcer and reported K27.0 (Acute peptic ulcer, site unspecified, with hemorrhage) but the claim was denied due to an incorrect diagnosis code. Which diagnosis code is more appropriate? We have never had a problem with this one.

Minnesota Subscriber

Answer: The issue with K27.0 isn’t that it’s inappropriate for a bleeding peptic ulcer, but the problem is that this code is not suited for newborns.

If the gastroenterologist treats this condition in a newborn, you should instead look to Chapter 16 of ICD-10, “Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period). In that section, you’ll find the appropriate code in P78.82 (Peptic ulcer of newborn).