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Radiology Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Follow Exception for V58.0 Diagnosis

Published on Tue Oct 18, 2005

Question: What is the proper diagnosis coding sequence for a patient who presents for radiation therapy for a laryngeal tumor?


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Answer: You should first report V58.0 (Encounter for other and unspecified procedures and aftercare; radiotherapy), followed by an appropriate neoplasm code, such as 161.1 (Malignant neoplasm of larynx; supraglottis).

Why: Although official guidelines typically require you to report the diagnosis responsible for the service first, if the patient receives only chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or rehabilitation, you should report the appropriate V code for the service as the primary diagnosis.

Caution: Individual payer guidelines may vary from the official guidelines, so determine your payer's rules and abide by them.
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