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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Compare and Contrast 35840 and 49002

Published on Tue Jun 24, 2008

Question: What is the difference between 35840 and 49002? Kentucky Subscriber Answer: Code 35840 (Exploration for postoperative hemorrhage, thrombosis or infection; abdomen) takes place in the circulatory system. That means the ob-gyn is managing hemorrhage via the vessels.- On the other hand, 49002 (Reopening of recent laparotomy) means the ob-gyn is looking more for the source of the bleeding. Often, he may do this by reopening the incision and exploring extensively. This code's relative value units are significantly higher (24.61 RVUs) than those for 35840 (16.38 RVUs). -- The answers for Reader Questions and You Be the Coder provided by Melanie Witt, RN, CPC-OGS, MA, an ob-gyn coding expert based in Guadalupita, N.M.
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