Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: In our office, we strive to have the most accurate ICD9 Codes each time we send out a claim. Unfortunately, sometimes we have diagnosis coding questions that seem unanswerable, at least among the coders in the office. Are there any resources we can consult when an ICD-9 question is too tough to solve in-office?

Kentucky  Subscriber

Answer: There is an excellent diagnosis coding helper available through the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP's ICD-9 Coding Flip Chart is an organized and user-friendly tool focusing on diagnosis codes that are common in pediatrics. For ordering information, visit http://www.aap.org/bst/showdetl.cfm?&DID=15
&Product_ID=3920.

You can consult several resources on the Internet if your have diagnosis coding queries. Here is a list of those Web sites. Keep it handy in case you or anyone else in the office ever has a question or problem with diagnosis coding.

Web Sites of Note

ICD-9 CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee:    
    www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/icd9/maint/maint.htm

Information Resource Products: www.irp.com/index.htm

Official ICD-9-CM coding guidelines: www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/icd9/icdguide.pdf

List of ICD-9-CM codes: www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/icd9code.asp