Radiology Coding Alert

The newly announced delay doesn't mean you should stop preparing.

The ICD-10 implementation date has been officially postponed, according to a Feb. 16 statement from the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). Although a new date hasn't been announced, you can take advantage of the extra time to ensure your practice has all of its preparations in place for the new coding and documentation requirements. Continue your training with this look at how coding for congenital cerebrovascular anomalies is expected to change.

The diagnosis: Congenital cerebrovascular anomalies are malformations of the blood vessels in the brain, present since birth.

• 747.81, Congenital anomalies of cerebrovascular system

Arteriovenous malformation of brain

Cerebral arteriovenous aneurysm, congenital

Congenital anomalies of cerebral vessels

Excludes: ruptured cerebral (arteriovenous) aneurysm (430)

• Q28.2, Arteriovenous malformation of cerebral vessels

Arteriovenous malformation of brain NOS

Congenital arteriovenous cerebral aneurysm (nonruptured)

• Q28.3, Other malformations of cerebral vessels

Congenital cerebral aneurysm (nonruptured)

Congenital malformation of cerebral vessels NOS

Developmental venous anomaly

Coder tips: The ICD-10 code set divides the diagnoses that fall under 747.81 into two separate codes, Q28.2 and Q28.3. As a result, it's very important to check the documented diagnosis in the index and then confirm it in the tabular by reviewing the code definition and the notes accompanying the code. For example, when the patient has a nonruptured congenital cerebral aneurysm, take a careful look at the documentation to determine whether it is arteriovenous. Cerebral aneurysm falls under Q28.3, but you should code an arteriovenous cerebral aneurysm to Q28.2.

Remember: When ICD-10-CM goes into effect, you should apply the code set and official guidelines in effect for the date of service reported. Learn more at www.cms.gov/ICD10/ and www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm#10update.

To read HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius's statement about the postponed implementation, visit www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/02/20120216a.html. And keep in mind "that even with a possible delay, practices should not put ICD10 on the back burner," says Barbara J. Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CENTC, CPCH, CPCP, CPC-I, CHCC, president of CRN Healthcare Solutions, a consulting firm in Tinton Falls, N.J. The delay may not be long.