Wiki Followup

[HBULLOCK]

Our patient has come in for a f/u post hospital stay for attempted suicide. I would like to use the correct dx codes for this. I billed with v and e codes and it was denied. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[dballard2004]

Take a look at the V67 series in the ICD-9-CM manual. These codes are used for follow-up exams. You would not report E codes here. E codes are only reported for the inital encounter for the treatment and not any subsequent care (except fractures).

 

[HBULLOCK]

Oh i didn't know e codes were for only for the initial encounter. I did bill with a v67- code as primary but bc denied saying this does not meet their technology assessment criteria or med policy guideline. Could i use any injury code perhaps?? Or maybe i should use a counseling code?? What do you think? Thanks

 

[sbicknell]

Depending on what's in the note, wouldn't you code the underlying condition that led to the suicide attempt, something like Depression as the primary DX? There must have been a discharge DX. Wouldn't you code the condition rather than the act?