READER QUESTIONS:
Here's When to Report Steroid Therapy History
Published on Fri Nov 06, 2009
Question: I see that ICD-9 2010 introduced new codes for personal history of inhaled steroid therapy (V87.44) and for personal history of systemic steroid therapy (V87.45). Could you explain when I might use these codes? Georgia Subscriber Answer: You should use these codes for encounters when the personal history directly affects the patient's complaints or status. You could use the V code to justify the need for laboratory or other diagnostic testing that a pediatrician uses for patients who are on chronic steroid therapy and have manifestations or side effects of treatment. These new personal history codes allow you to give a broader picture of the patient and the medical decision making. usually support charging a medically necessary face-toface encounter.