Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Watch terms and deficits to choose legitimate codes.Neurosurgery coders who overlooked the cerebrovascular accident section changes in the updated ICD-9 guidelines, effective Oct. 1, could be risking denials and delays for procedures which include CVA codes. Regain lost ground with these pointers on diagnosis changes that could affect neurosurgery claims.Note: Not all 2011 ICD-9-CM books include the updated guidelines because the books went to printer before the updated guidelines became available. Read on for the basic information your practice needs to know, however, then check out the full guidelines at www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/icd9/icdguide10.pdf.Check Your TerminologyPatients -- and practitioners -- sometimes use the terms "stroke" and "CVA" (cerebrovascular accident) interchangeably to refer to a cerebral infarction. The terms "stroke," "CVA," and "cerebral infarction NOS" each fall under diagnosis 434.91 (Cerebral artery occlusion, unspecified; with cerebral infarction).The updated guidelines add, "Additional code(s) should be assigned for any neurological deficits with the acute CVA, regardless of [...]