You will be able to more accurately code severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), should a case arise in your pulmonologist's practice. CMS added ICD-9 codes for the illness in its 2004 update of diagnosis codes, which takes effect Oct. 1, 2003.
Even though SARS took a devastating effect worldwide killing 800 people and infecting about 8,500until now no codes have existed to properly diagnosis the disease.
For a list of additions, deletions and revisions to ICD-9 codes that will affect your pulmonology practice, review the chart for easy reference.
Editor's note: To view all of CMS' ICD-9 updates for 2004, log on to
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn.icd9code.asp. More on the updates will appear in next month's issue.
