Guidelines 2.l.2) states: "The primary malignancy is coded as an additional site" . I interpret this to mean the primary site code is always added to the encounter, that you should not bill mets sites without identifying the primary cancer. For instance: prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bones and the treatment is directed toward the bones. I would code this as 79.51, C61--never as just C79.51. I believe the primary code is necessary because it identifies the cellular structure of the cancer being targeted for treatment. Am I correct in this understanding of this Guideline?
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Wiki Necessity of adding primary site cancer code when mets site is being treated
- Thread starter dmcdowell
- Start date
mitchellde
True Blue
Yes this has always been the correct way. In addition if the primary site is unknown then you use the code for unknown primary.