Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Pancytopenia, CVC infections, and more land a spot in the update.Although you can get a glimpse at ICD-9 updates each summer in CMS's proposed Inpatient PPS rule, ICD-9 can fit in plenty of changes before the new code set becomes official. Check out the codes below, which weren't finalized in time to be included in the proposed rule, but are effective Oct. 1, 2011, all the same.Is Your Documentation Up to the Thalassemia Challenge?ICD-9 2012 will add six new codes for thalassemia:282.40, Thalassemia, unspecified 282.43, Alpha thalassemia 282.44, Beta thalassemia 282.45, Delta-beta thalassemia 282.46, Thalassemia minor 282.47, Hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia. Under ICD-9 2011, "there is a single ICD-9-CM code [282.49, Other thalassemia] to capture all non-sickle cell related thalassemias. This one code includes the entire spectrum from asymptomatic patients (silent carrier or thalassemia trait) to patients with severe disease (thalassemia major)," states the Diagnosis Agenda for the ICD-9-CM Coordination and [...]