Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Everything from TACO to iron overload has a chance at more specific options.If you have patients who receive blood transfusions, prepare for some major changes to your diagnosis coding choices in the fall. CMS has posted proposed updates for ICD-9 2011, and transfusion-reaction codes are front and center.Remember: ICD-9 2011 will go into effect Oct. 1, 2010. The official version will be released in the fall, so the codes below are not yet final.Expand Your Iron Overload OptionsIf you need to code hemochromatosis, ICD-9 2010 directs you to 275.0 (Disorders of iron metabolism). But you may have more specific options under ICD-9 2011. The plan is to make 275.0 invalid and replace it with the following:275.01 -- Hereditary hemochromatosis275.02 -- Hemochromatosis due to repeated red blood cell transfusions275.03 -- Other hemochromatosis275.09 -- Other disorders of iron metabolism.Proposal: The FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) requested a code for transfusion-associated hemochromatosis (iron overload). [...]