Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

Question: Should we code using just V codes? For example, our patient had an aortic valve replacement related to aortic insufficiency. We are providing aftercare and monitoring for the coumadin she will take long term. How would you code this?


Arizona Subscriber

Answer: Yes, sometimes the appropriate codes are all V codes, but usually the patient has some other diagnosis that should be coded as well.

In your case, code as follows:

• M0230a: V58.73 (Aftercare following surgery of the circulatory system, NEC);

• M0240b: V42.2 (Organ or tissue replaced by transplant, heart valve) or V43.3 (Organ or tissue replaced by other means, heart valve) depending on what type of aortic valve was used;

• M0240c: V58.83 (Encounter for therapeutic drug monitoring); and 

• M0240d: V58.61 (Long-term [current] use of anticoagulants).