Wiki Coding blood in stool with GI bleed diagnoses

[lphillips]

Provider diagnoses, GI bleed and blood in stool.

Would you code both 578.9 and 578.1? Or just 578.9 because 578.1 is a symptom of?

I believe the 578.1 helps to give a better description of the issue. Blood in stool is visible, where as say, 792.1 occult blood is not visible and is found during testing.

I haven't found anything that said you can't code them together but then again I have found a lot that states blood in stool is a sign/symptom of the GI bleed.

Any thoughts? Feel I should know this but walked myself in a circle.

 

[cfordCPC]

If the GI bleed is causing the blood in stool, then I would code GI bleed only.

 

[Jcelin]

i agree.... code GI bleed only...

 

[lphillips]

Thanks for you input!