Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: A patient developed pneumocephalus meningitis after an attempt to open a blocked tear duct. I’m having trouble finding a proper ICD-9 code for post meningitis persistent headache. The best I’ve found so far is 339.2x. Is there a better choice?

Montana Subscriber

Answer:  Since ICD-9’s alphabetic index doesn’t list a code for post-pneumocephalus or post-meningitis persistent headache, your first step should be querying the provider for an accurate diagnosis. Potential codes could include:

• 339.2x – Post-traumatic headache
• 339.42 – New daily persistent headache
• 339.44 – Other complicated headache syndrome
• 339.89 – Other headache syndrome.

Remember: Just because the term “persistent” is used in the new daily persistent headache diagnosis does not mean that this would be the appropriate diagnosis to report. This specific condition has more requirements than just being consistent that are not specified in the information provided in the question – “post pneumocephalus meningitis persistent headache.”