Advanced Search

Gastroenterology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

569.3, 578.1 Don't Function the Same Way

Published on Thu Feb 10, 2011

Question: I'm not sure when I should use 569.3 and 578.1 for bloody stool. Are they one and the same?Answer: No. When you examine the stool, you would be able to decide on the original source of the bleeding. Then, you'd be able to choose the appropriate ICD-9 code.Blood in the stool usually originates from somewhere up the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, you would use 578.1 (Blood in stool). On the other hand, traces of bright red blood on the outside of the stool or on the toilet tissue usually occurs from a source within the rectum or anus (569.3, Hemorrhage of rectum and anus).When coding for a colonoscopy (45378), you would usually report 578.1 with 792.1 (Nonspecific abnormal findings in stool contents). Some carriers don't accept rectal bleeding as a justifiable diagnosis for colonoscopy because they presume that the source of the bleeding is the rectum or anus, [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Gastroenterology Coding Alert

View All