Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: When a physician orders a test and describes a condition such as "exposure to radiation" that is involved in a patient's illness, such as thyroid cancer, should we use E codes for the condition? Will it make any difference in payment or claim efficiency?


Indiana Subscriber

Answer: You should use ICD-9's E codes in addition to a primary diagnosis code to identify any external causes of injury or illness. E codes won't improve your payment or speed claim processing, but they will help to paint a more complete picture of a patient's condition to the carrier, possibly helping to justify a higher level of service.

Although coders most often use these codes to identify accidents, E codes also describe many other conditions, such as adverse drug effects or exposure to harmful elements. Feel free to append an E code if it will further clarify the patient's condition. For example, you could report E926.x (Exposure to radiation) along with a primary diagnosis of thyroid cancer (193) if the physician indicates that exposure to radiation contributed to the patient's diagnosis.