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Pediatric Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Fussy-Baby Code Allows Accurate Reporting

Published on Tue Jul 01, 2003

Question: How should we code for a fussy baby?

Colorado Subscriber

Answer: You should report 780.91 (Other general symptoms; fussy infant [baby]), which CMS introduced in ICD-9 2003. Coders previously recom-mended reporting 789.00 (Other symptoms involving abdomen and pelvis; abdominal pain, unspecified site) because a fussy baby often has colic. But now that a specific diagnosis exists, you should use it.
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