Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
Nail Down Symptoms for Nonspecific Complaints
Question: Our optometrist has a habit of writing “visual disturbance” on the superbill when he gives it to the patient to bring to checkout. The person who processes the claim then tends to report H53.8 (Other visual disturbances) for this. Is there a way to stop this cycle? Codify Subscriber Answer: Yes, you should open the patient’s medical record to find out more detail of the reason they came to your practice, and use the ICD-10 code for that condition instead of the non-specific H53.8. Remember: If a patient has a medical problem, use the final diagnosis; if the patient has only blurred vision, H53.8 might be your best bet. Example: A patient comes in with a complaint of blurry vision, and the optometrist finds a cataract. Report the code for the cataract (for instance H25.011, Cortical age-related cataract, right eye) instead of H53.8.
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Nail Down Symptoms for Nonspecific Complaints
Question: Our optometrist has a habit of writing “visual disturbance” on the superbill when he gives [...]
