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Primary Care Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Describe Abnormal Feces Fluidity With 787.91

Published on Tue Apr 19, 2011

Question:A patient says she has had chronic bowel problems for the last 10 years, with diarrhea or loose stool for two to three days in a row, then constipation for another week. Diagnostic tests are being ordered. Because the diagnostic tests are only covered for certain conditions, what diagnosis should we use? Colorado Subscriber Answer:Your ICD-9 report should include: 787.91 (Diarrhea), which describes the patient's abnormal frequency and fluidity of feces, and 564.0X (Constipation), which describes her subsequent decrease in frequency and/or passage of hard, dry stools. These ICD-9 codes do not specify chronicity but best describe her symptoms with codes that should justify testing to rule out conditions that can cause similar bowel patterns and be treated.
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