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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Elevated HCG May Mean Ectopic Pregnancy

Published on Tue Jun 28, 2005

Question: I need a diagnosis code for positive human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) four weeks after an abortion. The ultrasound showed no gestational sac.


Texas Subscriber
Answer: You can try reporting V72.40 (Pregnancy examination or test, pregnancy unconfirmed). You shouldn't use the 639.x codes (Complications following abortion and ectopic and molar pregnancies) because this is not a complication of the abortion.

An elevated HCG along with no gestational sac may be an indication of ectopic pregnancy. Question whether or not this is something the ob-gyn suspects. If so, you've got another reason to report V72.40 when the ob-gyn hasn't confirmed the pregnancy or ruled it out at the time of performing the ultrasound. The answers for Reader Questions and You Be the Coder were provided by Melanie Witt, RN, CPC, MA, an ob-gyn coding expert based in Fredericksburg, Va.
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