Otolaryngology Coding Alert

If you don't like using an unspecified code for Barrett's esophagus, ICD-9 2004 will alleviate your diagnostic worries by providing a specific code for the disease. The changes, effective Oct. 1, also include revisions to some crucial asthma codes.

ICD-9 2004 does not have many changes that will affect otolaryngologists, says Jeffrey Linzer Sr., MD, MICP, FAAP, representative to the ICD-9-CM editorial advisory board. "Changes of interest, however, include a new code for Barrett's esophagus," he says.

Previously when a physician diagnosed a patient with Barrett's esophagus after biopsying and destroying esophageal tumors (such as, 43228, Esophagoscopy, rigid or flexible; with ablation of tumor[s], polyps[s], or other lesion[s], not amenable to removal by hot biopsy forceps, bipolar cautery or snare technique), you had to use 530.89 (Other specified disorders of esophagus; other), says Cathy Satkus, billing manager at Eastern Oklahoma Ear, Nose & Throat Inc., in Tulsa. ICD-9 includes a specific code to describe Barrett's esophagus (530.85), which is the abnormal growth of intestinal-type cells above the esophagus-stomach border.

Satkus welcomes the new addition for Barrett's esophagus. "I love having codes that allow more specificity," she says.

For these and other changes, see the partial list below. To view a complete list of changes, visit the CMS Web site www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/icd9code.asp.