Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Low risk gets its own code.

When your lab reports positive results for human papilloma virus DNA testing, you’ll see some changes when ICD-10 goes into effect later this year.

Look to Different Code Family

Although ICD-9 lists HPV positive results in the same code family as abnormal Pap smears, that’s not the case for ICD-10.

Currently, you list a positive high-risk HPV DNA test as 795.05 (Cervical high risk human papillomavirus [HPV] DNA test positive), which is part of the code family 795.0 (Nonspecific abnormal papanicolaou smear of cervix).

Under ICD-10, you’ll list the same findings as R87.810 (Cervical high risk human papillomavirus [HPV] DNA test positive). Although the definition is the same, this code is part of the code family R87.8 (Other abnormal findings in specimens from female genital organs), not R87.6 (Abnormal cytological findings in specimens from female genital organs) where abnormal Pap results are listed.

Find Specific Low Risk Code

Another change you can expect as you switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 is that you’ll move from a generic code to a specific code when you’re reporting positive results for low-risk HPV DNA testing, as follows:

• ICD-9: 795.09 (Other abnormal papanicolaou smear of cervix and cervical HPV)
  
• ICD-10: R87.820 (Cervical low risk human papillomavirus [HPV] DNA test positive).