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Pediatric Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Drug Withdrawal Syndrome

Published on Sun Oct 01, 2000

Question: A mother brought in her newborn and claimed she used cocaine while pregnant. What diagnosis code should we use for the child?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: A couple of different ICD-9 codes are useful in this case. The first and probably the best is 779.5 (drug withdrawal syndrome in newborn). The definition states drug withdrawal syndrome in infant of dependent mother. If the mother was not dependent on the drug, you may find V29.8 (observation and evaluation of newborns and infants for suspected condition not found; observation for other specified suspected condition) more helpful. The definition states that this category is to be used for newborns within the first 29 days of life who are suspected of having an abnormal condition resulting from exposure from the mother or birth process, but without signs or symptoms, and which after examination and observation is found not to exist. The diagnosis code would go with the appropriate evaluation and management (E/M) visit code.
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