alessandra
Contributor
When coding a motor vehicle accident can I use pain as the primary dx like M79.642 ( pain in left hand) or it has to be an injury code? Thanks
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Wiki Motor vehicle accident
- Thread starter alessandra
- Start date
Ajesh Kuriakose
Guest
No you can't use pain code, Unless the visits sole purpose is pain management you won't use it. Code injury code for this scenario.
alessandra
Contributor
Thank you so much
mitchellde
True Blue
No you can use a pain code with the external cause code. It doe s not need to be a injury per se. Maybe the only consequence of the external cause is pain.
Ajesh Kuriakose
Guest
Can you tell an example of using pain code as pdx with external cause code, I haven't seen a similar scenario(am new to coding
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mitchellde
True Blue
I am saying it could happen, you could have neck pain and the providers states it is due to an MVA. There may not be any external symptoms nor is the provider saying whiplash just acute neck pain associated with an MVA.
The M chapter has a note that if applicable you are to add the external cause code. It would be applicable if the provider documented it.
The M chapter has a note that if applicable you are to add the external cause code. It would be applicable if the provider documented it.
Ajesh Kuriakose
Guest
k. got it, thanks. Didn't think that deep.
I know this post is several years old. But in my experience, You can code the Pain code, but you would not use the External cause code unless there is an injury code (such as an S code (ICD 10)). Most notes I have seen where a pain code was listed with an external cause code was rejected and had to be recoded by removing the External cause codes. Hope this helps.