Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: A patient came to us after failing a hearing screen, but she passed our in- office test. What diagnosis code do we submit?

Maryland Subscriber

Answer: You should report V72.11 (Encounter for hearing examination following failed hearing screening). Use this code when a patient fails an initial hearing screening either at a school or at a primary-care office and your physician orders further testing that yields normal results.

Although V72.11 is a V code, you may use it as a primary diagnosis without any additional ICD-9 code.

The corresponding ICD-10 code will be Z01.110, with the same descriptor that you’re familiar with: Encounter for hearing examination following failed hearing screening.