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General Surgery Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Call on Up to 8 ICD-9 Codes, When Necessary

Published on Mon Jun 25, 2007

Question: I was recently told that we can use no more than four diagnosis codes on an individual Medicare claim. Is this true?

New Mexico Subscriber
Answer: In the past, Medicare limited you to only four diagnosis codes per Medicare claim, but that limitation doubles for 2007.

According to an MLN Matters release, Medicare will process up to eight diagnosis codes, effective for claims processed July 1, 2007, and later. You can read more about this change by viewing MLN Matters article MM5441, online at  www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5441.pdf.  -- Technical and coding advice for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Marcella Bucknam, CPC, CCS, CPC-H, CCS-P, charge capture manager for the University of Washington Physicians.
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