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ICD 10 Coding Alert

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How to Interpret NEC and NOS in ICD-10

Published on Mon May 07, 2012

Question: I was looking at the ICD-10-CM manual, and I noticed NEC and NOS. I know they stand for Not Elsewhere Classifiable (NEC) and Not Otherwise Specified (NOS), but how should I use them in ICD-10-CM?California SubscriberAnswer: Like ICD-9, the NEC (Not Elsewhere Classifiable) abbreviation contains codes for "other" types of specified conditions that haven't already been classified. An example is H26.8 (Other specified cataract).When your physician doesn't clearly specify the condition, you can use a NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) code -- although payers usually frown upon this process. An example is H40.9 (Unspecified glaucoma).
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