Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: A patient comes to us after failing a hearing screen, but passes our in-office test. What diagnosis code should I use?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: You should use V72.11 (Encounter for hearing examination following failed hearing screening), which ICD-9 introduced in 2007. Use this code when a patient fails an initial hearing screening either at a school or at a primary-care office and your ENT 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.