Outpatient Facility Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Report Elevated B12 Levels Under Abnormal Blood Chemistry Codes
Published on Wed Jul 11, 2018 
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Question: How do I code a patient with an elevated B-12 level? Minnesota Subscriber Answer: No specific diagnosis code exists for elevated vitamin B12 levels. You’ll find the most accurate code available in the R79 (Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry) code range. You should not opt for codes R79.0 (Abnormal level of blood mineral) or R79.1 (Abnormal coagulation profile) since vitamin B is neither a mineral nor affiliated with the patient’s coagulation levels. Instead, you will use code R79.89 (Other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry) for lack of a more specific option.
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