Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Fever coding could heat up in October if the National Center for Health Care Statistics (NCHS) has its way.

NCHS recently recommended 125 new ICD-9 codes for inclusion in the upcoming 2009 code set.

The big news: Code 780.6 (Fever) could require more specificity when ICD-9 2009 goes into effect Oct. 1. A proposed change would create a fifth-digit category for fevers categorized as caused by "other conditions." If accepted, your new coding option could look like this, according to the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting minutes (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/icd9/maint/agendaMa08.pdf):

- 780.61 -- Fever presenting with conditions classified elsewhere

Code first underlying condition when associated fever is present, such as with:

- leukemia (codes from categories 204, 205, 206, 207, 208)

- neutropenia (288.00-288.09)

- sickle-cell disease (282.60-282.69).

Because the clock ran out before these codes could be incorporated into the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS), coders will have to wait until August to find out whether these new codes will be part of the final rule when it is published in the Federal Register.

Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert will keep you informed about these new codes and let you know when they become official. You can send an e-mail to joec@eliresearch.com for the full list of proposed codes.

The document for the new codes can also be found at the Centers for Disease Control Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/icd9/maint/agendaMa08.pdf.