Primary Care Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Do You Know When Primary Can Be Secondary?

Question: Is it possible to code a secondary neoplasm as primary, or is a primary diagnosis always coded as such? California Subscriber Answer: While it may sound confusing, from a coding perspective, sometimes a secondary neoplasm (where the cancer has spread to, or metastasized) can be coded as a primary (principal or first-listed) diagnosis. Here’s why: When a treatment targets a cancerous [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more


Which Codify by AAPC tool is right for you?

Call 844-334-2816 to speak with a Codify by AAPC specialist now.