Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
Show the Secondary Diagnosis for Hepatitis Screen
Question: A physician client requested a hepatitis screening test for a patient with an injection drug use habit. What diagnosis code fits this case?
Florida Subscriber
Answer: The correct ICD-9 coding for this case is V73.89 (Screening examination for… other specified viral diseases) with a secondary diagnosis of V69.8 (Other problems related to lifestyle). The secondary diagnosis can be significant for coverage because it impacts the patient’s risk level for hepatitis.
Once ICD-10 goes into effect, you would report the same case as Z11.59 (Encounter for screening for other viral diseases) and Z72.89 (Other problems related to lifestyle).
Reader Questions and You Be the Coder were prepared with the assistance of R.M. Stainton Jr., MD, president of Doctors’ Anatomic Pathology Services in Jonesboro, Ark.
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