Wiki Inpatient Dx codes, physician billing

[Tonyj]

Is it feasible and/or allowable to use definitive codes after the initial visit for the dx of the initial visit and/or subsequent visits? i.e. pt presents with fever to ED. Pt admitted, blood cx sent, results 2 days later gram (-) bacteremia. Can I code bacteremia as the admitting dx even though I didn't have the code till days later? Is it allowable from an inpatient physician billing standpoint to pull from labs/path reports for conclusive dx's?

 

[mitchellde]

the physician coder may code from the path report but not the lab report. if you wish to hold the claim and wait for the path report you may do so. A lab report however must have a written interpretation from the physician in the chart note.