Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: A patient has a history of allergic reactions to spider bites. When treatment or evaluation calls for using the personal history presenting hazard to health V code, should I use the allergy to insect (V15.06) or the other allergy code (V15.09)?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: In 2009, as well as in 2010, you should use V15.06. An arachnid is a spider, which is also listed under both ICD-9 tabular entries for V15.06.

ICD-9 2010 makes solves your coding dilemma easier by revising V15.06 from "allergy to insects" to "allergy to insects and arachnids." Bugs, as well as "insect bites and stings," also fall under this code.

-- Answers to the You Be the Coder and Reader Questions reviewed by Barbara J. Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CENTC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CHCC, president of CRN Healthcare Solutions, a coding and reimbursement consulting firm in Tinton Falls, N.J.