Primary Care Coding Alert

Use expanded 779.3x to describe newborn issues. Come Oct. 1, your newborn problem ICD-9 coding will be more specific thanks to age-specific additions for feeding problems as well as codes for vomiting and failure to thrive. Put One More Digit on 779.3 for These Conditions ICD-9 2010 brings an expanded 779.3x (Feeding problems in newborn). • 779.31 (Feeding problems in newborn): Feeding problems can be broadly categorized as underfeeding and overfeeding. Underfeeding results from the infant's failure to take sufficient amounts of milk. Oftentimes, family physicians spot this problem when there is a failure to gain weight appropriate for their age or when the mother notices that their infant suckles infrequently or for only short periods of time. Overfeeding results from supplemental foods and therefore is not a problem in the perinatal period. • 779.32 (Bilious vomiting in newborn): Bilious vomiting is vomiting of gastric contents containing bile, often described [...]