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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Treat Spontaneous Abortion Visit as Postpartum Care

Published on Fri May 11, 2007

Question: A patient had a spontaneous abortion four weeks ago. She came in to our practice for a follow-up. The ob-gyn did not perform a surgery, so I believe this is a billable visit. What diagnosis code should I use?


California Subscriber
Answer: You should treat this visit as postpartum care. Because you did not bill for surgery, you can use 59430 (Postpartum care only [separate procedure]) for the postpartum visit. Your diagnosis code is V24.2 (Routine postpartum follow-up). You should not code the spontaneous abortion (634.92, Spontaneous abortion; without mention of complication; complete) at this visit because the ob-gyn is not treating the patient for it at this time.
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