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Test Your Diagnosis Coding Savvy With This 3-Question UTI, HTN, Suspect Dx Rundown

Published on Sat Aug 14, 2010

Find out if you need to hone your diagnosis coding skills.Finding the proper procedure code to report for your urologist's services is only half the battle. If you don't assign an appropriate diagnosis code, your claim is asking to be denied. Urinary tract infections (UTIs), hypertension, and "rule out" diagnoses present unique challenges. Take a look at three quiz questions to see if you're up to speed on these tricky areas. Does 'Urosepsis' = UTI?Question 1: A urologist is treating a patient in the hospital and billing initial and subsequent care with documented diagnosis of "urosepsis." Should you code 038.9?Answer 1: No, you should not use 038.9 (Unspecified septicemia) for "urosepsis." Urosepsis means a urinary tract infection (UTI), says Denise Griffin. You have to use 599.0 (Urinary tract infection, site not specified) for "urosepsis." According to ICD-9 guidelines, "The term urosepsis is a nonspecific term. If that is the only [...]
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