Family history of certain other specific conditions (V18)

Nail down which codes qualify only as secondary diagnoses. Every coder knows that assigning the most accurate ICD-10-CM code allows you to demonstrate why a service was performed, thereby helping prove medical necessity for all of your services. But one [...]

Secondary diagnosis codes provide payers with additional details. Although urology practices don’t see injured patients as frequently as certain other specialties, you’ll still find occasions when a patient’s condition occurs due to an external cause. When that happens, you should [...]

Question: A new patient reports to the surgeon complaining of intermittent headaches that have been getting more severe; the headaches began after the patient hit their head after a fall from their bicycle that did not include any other people [...]

Question: A new patient reports to the neurologist complaining of intermittent headaches that have been getting more severe; the headaches began after the patient hit their head after a fall from their bicycle that did not include any other people or [...]

Navigate contrary ICD-10-CM instructions with confidence. Encountering abuse can bring up a lot of feelings, but frustration with the ICD-10-CM guidelines doesn’t need to be part of the experience. Pocket these tips for navigating instructions that can be confusing. Nuts [...]

Figure out how to decipher contradictory ICD-10 instructions. One of the first things you learn as a coder is how to apply ICD-10 Guideline IV.H when reviewing provider’s notes. But, if you’re confused about how the instructions pertain to coding [...]

Know best practices for reporting transport accidents that cause injuries. ICD-10-CM 2023 adds hundreds of new V codes from which you can choose. While most ophthalmology coders are familiar with these codes, many admit to being unsure of the specifics [...]

Hint: Bone fragment positioning determines the diagnosis. Of the assortment of wrist fractures in ICD-10-CM, three types stand out with unique names — Colles’, Smith’s, and Barton’s fractures. Knowing the difference between these three fractures will help you assign the [...]

Here’s what to do when ICD-10 guidelines seem to contradict. Since the beginning of your coding career, you have known to apply ICD-10 Guideline IV.H to your pediatrician’s notes when they indicate they have not confirmed a diagnosis, and not [...]

Don’t let your skills for urgent care get rusty. Make sure you’re able to code urgent eye care situations as accurately and with as much comfort as any diagnosis for a routine scheduled visit. Try coding these eye trauma scenarios [...]