Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Confirm Diagnosis Before You Report It

Question: If the physician hasn't indicated x-ray results in his final diagnosis, should I code the findings? The doctor wrote a complete interpretation on the films. He says yes, because usually he has another diagnosis to justify the x-ray.Answer: For you to report findings from the x-ray, your orthopedist must document the findings as a final diagnosis. Choosing a diagnosis based on the patient's test results -- even when that diagnosis seems obvious -- is inappropriate and possibly fraudulent coding.CMS guidelines state that a physician must confirm a diagnosis based on the test results. If the test results are normal or nondiagnostic, you should code the signs or symptoms that prompted the test.Similarly, the ICD-9 coding guidelines for diagnostic testing instruct you not to "interpret" what a study says, but rather to rely on the physician's stated diagnosis. If the x-ray findings seem like an important component of the case -- and may [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Orthopedic Coding Alert

View All