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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Anomalies

Published on Tue Dec 01, 1998

Question: How do you code for a 15-23 week pregnancy induced with Pitocin; with subsequent vaginal delivery for fetal anomalies. What procedure and diagnosis codes should I use?

Coder from Indiana

Answer: There are a couple of options depending on the length of gestation. Prior to 20 weeks 0 days gestation, medical induction with oxytocins should be reported using the appropriate E/M code for the place of service (eg, 99201-99233). It may also be appropriate to report 59812 if surgical intervention is necessary to remove the placenta after delivery of the fetus if the placenta is retained. After 20 weeks 0 days gestation you should report the maternity care and delivery codes. As for the diagnosis codes, they will depend on what was wrong with the fetus. A good place to start is in looking at codes under 655, for known or suspected fetal abnormality affecting management of mother.
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