Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
Get a Grip on New ICD-9 Codes That Affect Your Lab
From carcinoid tumor to Pap smears, make sure you-re ready for diagnosis.
With more than 125 lab-relevant diagnosis codes in the pipeline for late 2008, you can't afford to wait to learn about the proposed ICD-9 code list.
Resource: We-ve charted the most important changes for you, but you can find the full list in the April 30 Federal Register.
Remember: Since HIPAA's passage, there is no grace period for new ICD-9 codes. You-ve got to be ready to go with the new codes on Oct. 1, says Joan Gilhooly, CPC, CHCC, president of Medical Business Resources in Chicago.
The AMA has approved the following codes for use, but slight changes are possible before the list is finalized over the summer. For all the latest news on ICD-9 2009, check out future issues of Pathology/Lab Coding Alert.
Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
- ICD-9 Update:
Let Diagnosis Changes Catapult Your October Lab Claims to Success
Don't lose medical-necessity clout by missing new codes. If you don't get your 2009 ICD-9 [...] - Clip-and-Save Chart:
Get a Grip on New ICD-9 Codes That Affect Your Lab
From carcinoid tumor to Pap smears, make sure you-re ready for diagnosis. With more than [...] - ICD-9 Update:
Don't Get Caught Using 2008 'Benign' and 'Malignant' Codes for Carcinoid Tumors
Pathologists must assign 209.xx for neuroendocrine cancer. Soon you-ll no longer choose a benign or [...] - You Be the Coder:
Heads Up for Colon Donut Debate
Question: Our pathologist examined a colon resection for tumor and also examined two colon "donuts" [...] - Reader Questions:
Infectious Agent Stands Alone
Question: When billing for infectious agent tests such as Chlamydia (87491) and gonorrhea (87591), can [...] - Reader Questions:
Watch Ovary/Fallopian Tube Bundles
Question: Our pathologist received an ovary with an attached fallopian tube. Although the pathologist did [...] - Reader Questions:
Use Cystatin C for Renal Function
Question: When our lab tests for serum creatinine and cystatin C for patients with kidney [...] - Reader Questions:
Beware Counterstain Charge
Question: When we use an immunohistochemistry stain to identify Melan-A positive melanocytes to diagnose melanoma, [...] - Reader Questions:
Capture New VRE Code
Question: A hospitalized patient developed a urinary tract infection following removal of a catheter. The [...]
