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Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Put Pre-Op Code in Top Spot

Published on Sun Jun 06, 2010

Question: When patients are seen for pre-op clearance, may we report V72.83 as a secondary code or does it have to be primary?Connecticut SubscriberAnswer: Code V72.83 (Other specified preoperative examination) should be the first-listed code, assuming that is the appropriate code for your case. When a patient presents for a preoperative evaluation only, ICD-9 official guidelines (section IV.N) state: "sequence first a code from category V72.8[x], Other specified examinations, to describe the pre-op consultations."Then the guidelines instruct you to "assign a code for the condition to describe the reason for the surgery as an additional diagnosis." Finally, code "any findings related to the pre-op evaluation." Resource: You can download the guidelines from www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd9cm_addenda_guidelines.htm. 
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