Wiki Can you use diagnosis code from prior date of service

[lisak0727]

If a P.A. is giving an injection can you use a diagnosis such as M17.11 from a visit 2 months prior by a physician in the same group practice?
Example: Patient comes to the office for viscosupplementation such as Orthovisc.
February 2019, patient was diagnosed with OA bilateral knees - M17.0.
The physician assistant did not use OA as a diagnosis on the date he/she gave Orthovisc.
Can we use the diagnosis from February 2019 which was OA and the original discussion about ordering the Orthovisc took place?

 

[mitchellde]

No you cannot go back in time to grab a diagnosis you feel will better assign medical necessity than the one documented on the date of service. You will need to use the diagnosis documented on the date of the injection. I am curious as to the diagnosis that was documented.