ICD-9 Gives You More Choices for Brain Injury Coding
Published on Thu Jul 23, 2009
Check out V80.01 and V80.09 for special screenings. The newest edition of ICD-9 changes goes into effect Oct. 1, so adjust your system to reflect some new diagnosis codes for special neurological screenings -- and one that's about to become invalid -- to be sure your claims stay on par. Extend 'Other Conditions' Dx From 348.8 to 348.89 Diagnosis 348.8 (Other conditions of brain) will be invalid starting Oct. 1, but ICD-9 2010 introduces a new fifth-digit replacement: 348.89. The descriptor remains the same, so you'll be able to use it for the same circumstances as 348.8. "I seldom used 348.8 because I do mostly surgery coding and use the final pathology report for diagnoses," says Kathryn Gemmell, RHIT, in the physician coding department of Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa. "Something like calcium deposits on the brain or brain death could be coded to 348.89." You might also turn to 348.89 to [...]
