Primary Care Coding Alert
Include V Code on Toy-Related Lead Screenings
Question: What V code should we use for lead screenings that parents request for their children due to the numerous toy recalls? Do you have to know definitively that a patient was exposed to lead to use V15.86? Florida Subscriber Answer: If there is a known exposure to lead, use V15.86 (Exposure to lead). If a parent requests the screening because she has identified that the child had contact with one or several of the toys listed in the toy recalls, V15.86 is appropriate -- a known exposure has occurred. Alternatively, report V82.5 (Special screening for other conditions; chemical poisoning and other contamination) for routine screenings. Also use this code when a parent requests the screening for general concerns without a specified episode of lead exposure. -- Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions reviewed by Kent J. Moore, manager of Health Care Financing and Delivery Systems for the American Academy of Family Physicians in Leawood, Kan.
Primary Care Coding Alert
- Get Ready to Say 'Hello' to New Telephone Call Codes for 2008
Smoking cessation counseling to get CPT codes Has the imprecise matching of simple, intermediate or [...] - Use 'E Visits' to Save Time, Fatten Bottom Line
Caution: Don't discuss sensitive medical matters via unencrypted e-mails When your FP provides services to [...] - Pediatric Coding Corner:
Avoid Losing Out on Vaccine Dollars With These Tips
Remember: Dose code differs for children under 3 If your practice is losing money on [...] - Reader Question:
6 New Vaccine Codes Coming Next Year
Question: Will there be any new vaccine codes for coders in 2008? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: [...] - Reader Question:
Report Entire 1st Visit With New Patient Codes
Question: Could you clarify how to code a new patient visit during which the patient [...] - Reader Question:
Can You Use V Codes as Primary Diagnoses?
Question: When the FP performs diabetes screenings for our patients, which ICD-9 code should I [...] - Reader Question:
Medicare to Allow More Moderate Sedation Pay
Question: What are Medicare's payment policies for the new moderate (conscious) sedation codes? Can we [...] - Reader Question:
Include V Code on Toy-Related Lead Screenings
Question: What V code should we use for lead screenings that parents request for their [...] - You Be The Coder:
Coding a Catch-Up Shot Session
Question: At an 18-month preventive medicine service, the FP noted that the toddler had missed [...]
