Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Base Code Choice On Care For Artificial Openings

Question: When is it appropriate to list a V55.x (Attention to artificial openings) code? What sort of care must we provide in order to list one of these codes instead of a V44.x (Artificial opening status) code?


Arizona Subscriber


Answer: Use V55 codes when the agency is providing care related to the artificial opening--cleansing, flushing, changing the bag, teaching, etc.

If the agency is not providing any care to the artificial opening, then it is more appropriate to code for the artificial opening status using a V44 code.

Unless otherwise indicated, reader questions were answered by Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, consultant and principal of Selman-Holman & Associates in Denton, TX.