Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

Coders who take the following codingshortcuts can expect claim rejections or questions:

• Listing unspecified codes (codes ending in "9") when a more detailed code is warranted;

• Adding inappropriate digits as space holders (such as adding one or two zeros to a three-or four-digit number to create a five-digit code); and

• Listing inappropriate primary diagnosis codes (such as reporting an acute fracture code when a V code actually represents the primary reason for home care).