Question: When coding a psychiatric inpatient admission on a pregnant woman, do you use the pregnancy codes? I have always been under the impression that basic coding guidelines apply.
Answer: Your thinking is correct. The term “principal diagnosis” or “PDx” applies to all types of inpatients.
When coding the psychiatric inpatient admission on a pregnant woman, you should submit the pregnancy code as primary diagnosis 648.4x (Mental disorders complicating pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium) and then the psychiatric diagnosis as secondary.
Explanation: Chapter 11 codes (Complications of Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium) have sequencing priority over codes from other chapters. Additional codes from other chapters may be used in conjunction with ICD-9’s Chapter 11 codes to further specify conditions.
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