Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert
Gather Details for Pneumonia Diagnosis
Question: Our patient is diagnosed with "multilobar pneumonia." Which ICD-9 code should I report? Mississippi Subscriber Answer: When coding for pneumonia, you should do your best to identify the specific type, and code based on the causal organism. The Coding Clinic emphasizes that the term "lobar pneumonia" is, in fact, outdated. In the past, "lobar pneumonia" "referred to pneumococcal pneumonia and at that time, pneumococcal pneumonia usually affected a single lobe; however, presently there are many causes of lobar pneumonia," Coding Clinic says. Assign code 486 (Pneumonia, organism unspecified), if the provider is unable to identify the organism causing the multilobar pneumonia. Important: If the physician uses nonspecific language, for instance 'healthcare-associated pneumonia' or 'nosocomial pneumonia,' you should clarify with him the specific bacterial type of the pneumonia. Now's the time to communicate with physicians to ensure that they are properly documenting diagnoses. Remind them that accurate documentation will be more important than ever as the medical industry is on the cusp of ICD-10. Let them know that it will save everyone time (and bring in money faster) if coders can do their work quickly based on detailed documentation.
Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert
- ICD-9 2012:
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Practice Correct Coding for All Patients or Risk Future Reimbursement
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Nail Adverse Effects Reporting With E Codes
Hint: List three codes for poisonings. Fact: Reporting E codes isn't always optional in home [...] - ICD-10:
Expand External Cause Reporting with ICD-10
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Master Adverse Effects Coding with the Table of Drugs and Chemicals
To code correctly for the adverse effects of a drug prescribed and taken correctly, you [...] - You Be the Coder:
Try Your Hand at Coding Drug-Induced Pancytopenia
Question: We have been providing Methotrexate injections for our patient's rheumatoid arthritis. She began experiencing [...] - Reader Question:
Get the Scoop on Hypoglycemia
Question: We have a question regarding the use of 250.80 (Diabetes with other specified manifestations; [...] - Reader Question:
Look to V57.x Codes for Therapy-Only
Question: Our new patient has the following diagnoses: lumbosacral spondylosis, lumbar spinal stenosis, difficulty ambulating, [...] - Reader Question:
Gather Details for Pneumonia Diagnosis
Question: Our patient is diagnosed with "multilobar pneumonia." Which ICD-9 code should I report? Mississippi [...] - Reader Question:
List 5 Digits with 948.xx Burn Codes
Question: When coding for burns, how many diagnosis codes do I need to report? When [...]
