Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: Does ICD-9 include a code for prolonged use of estrogen?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: When looking for an ICD-9 code in this type of situation, you want to find the code that best describes why the patient uses estrogen. At first glance, the best choice might be V58.69 (Long term [current] drug use; Long term [current] use of other medications). One of the listed exclusions, however, is for postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. The guidelines point you to V07.4 (Hormone replacement therapy (postmenopausal)). That will be your best choice for prolonged estrogen use.

Definition: ICD-9 guidelines describe "long term" as "continuous" over an extended period of time as a prophylactic measure (such as for prevention of deep vein thrombosis) or as treatment of a chronic condition (such as arthritis) or a disease requiring a lengthy course of treatment (such as cancer).