Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: Suppose a patient presents for periodic visits to see if a colon carcinoma has recurred. She has been clear for five years. Should we report the "history of" diagnosis along with V67.2? Pennsylvania Subscriber Answer: If the oncologist documents that there is no sign of the carcinoma recurring and chemotherapy was the last treatment provided, you should sequence V67.2 (Follow-up examination; following chemotherapy) first, state the ICD-9 official guidelines (effective Oct. 1,2009). Then you may report the "history of" code (such as V10.05, Personal history of malignant neoplasm; large intestine) on the same claim to provide the full picture of a "healed condition and its treatment," the guidelines indicate. But if the carcinoma has recurred, the guidelines instruct you to report the active disease/recurrence diagnosis (such as 153.x, Malignant neoplasm of colon ...) instead of the follow-up code. Crucial: Codes V67.x and V10.x are specific to conditions that have [...]