Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: I keep getting claims with 719.75 returned to me. What am I doing wrong?

Pennsylvania Subscriber

Answer: For 2004, the ICD-9 manual combined code 719.70 (Difficulty walking), along with 719.75-719.79, into a single four-digit code: 719.7 (Difficulty in walking). As of Oct. 1, 2003, you should no longer use a fifth digit with 719.7.

-- Clinical and coding expertise for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Neil Busis, MD, chief of the division of neurology and director of the neurodiagnostic laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Shadyside, and clinical associate professor in the department of neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and Laureen Jandroep, OTR, CPC, CCS-P, CPC-H, CCS, director and senior instructor for CRN Institute, an online coding certification training center based in Absecon, N.J.