Ob-Gyn Coding Alert
Elevated HCG May Indicate This Diagnosis
Question: I need a diagnosis code for positive human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) four weeks after an abortion. The ultrasound showed no gestational sac. California Subscriber Answer: You can try reporting Z32.00 (Encounter for pregnancy test, result unknown). You shouldn’t use any diagnoses from the O04.- (Complications following (induced) termination of pregnancy) code category, 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 this is something the ob-gyn suspects. If so, you’ve got another reason to report Z32.00 when the ob-gyn hasn’t confirmed the pregnancy or ruled it out at the time of performing the ultrasound.
Related Articles
Ob-Gyn Coding Alert
- Gynecology:
Focus In on E/M Visit for Patient Returning for a Repeat Pap Smear
Highlight this diagnosis code. When a patient returns because the Pap smear results are determined [...] - Obstetrics:
Bust 4 Myths to Separate Fact From Fiction About Contraceptive Services
Find out whether preventive services include counseling. Do you know when you should code a [...] - Compliance:
Make Accessibility for Deaf Patients a Priority
Consider accommodations for deaf patients. It’s of the utmost importance that you ensure that clients [...] - You Be the Coder:
Elevated HCG May Indicate This Diagnosis
Question: I need a diagnosis code for positive human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) four weeks after an [...] - Reader Questions:
How to Decide Between E/M Versus PP Care
Question: I have a patient who didn’t deliver with us and came back for postpartum (PP) [...] - Reader Questions:
Patient Fears Pregnancy? Not a Medical Condition
Question: I have a patient who wants a tubal ligation due to a phobia of getting [...] - Reader Questions:
Code Foreign Body Removal by Method
Question: My physician removed a foreign body from the vagina of a child using a pediatric [...] - Reader Questions:
Remember to Receive Patient Consent for Telehealth Visits
Question: When doing a telehealth encounter, do you need to ask for telehealth-specific consent for the [...] - Reader Questions:
Your Lesion Code Depends on Diameter
Question: Our physician performed an excision of four benign lesions and wants to bill 11420, but [...] - Reader Questions:
This Is How to Clear Up Your Injection Coding Mistakes
Question: Our ob-gyn injected Depo-Medrol and Xylocaine into the area of the vaginal cuff that was [...] - Reader Questions:
Understand These E/M Guidelines
Question: When our providers perform online digital evaluation and management (E/M) services (99421-99423), what activities count [...]
