Advanced Search

Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Use Healing Status to Select V Code

Published on Thu Jun 03, 2010

Question: Our patient had a hip replacement and returned one year later for a routine follow-up with an x-ray. We plan on reporting 99213 with ICD-9 code V43.64, but according to the ICD-9 handbook, V43.64 is a secondary code. Which primary code should we report for this diagnosis?Indiana SubscriberAnswer: If an asymptomatic patient presents to your practice for an annual visit following total hip replacement, you should report the appropriate E/M code (99211-99215 for established patients), along with V67.09 (Follow-up examination; following other surgery) and V43.64 (Organ or tissue replaced by other means; hip). If the patient is still healing from the surgery, you should report V54.81 (Aftercare following joint replacement) instead.
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 your eNewsletter
  • 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
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Orthopedic Coding Alert

View All