lfisher78
Contributor
A physician has a diagnosis of generalized osteoarthritis with the support being abnormal joints and joint pain. I coded this 715.09 but my supervisor says that it should be 715.00. Please Help!!!
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Wiki PLEASE HELP! 715.00 or 715.09
- Thread starter lfisher78
- Start date
jlparker0898
Networker
I agree with your supervisor due to not having a specific joint region...715.00 Osteoarthrosis, generalized site unspecified
lfisher78
Contributor
So even though ICD 9 CM clearly directs you to 715.09 you would code 715.00? How would you get to that code in the alpha index of icd 9?
lfisher78
Contributor
Coders desk reference also states that generalized OA involves multiple joints.
mitchellde
True Blue
You do not need to get a specific code in the alpha, it is only a guide to get to look in the appropriate location in the tabular, often you should select a different code given the more specific descriptions from the tabular. You should never let the alpha index be the only source for your code.
lfisher78
Contributor
I certainly get that, but when the coders desk reference gives you a definition of generalized OA as multiple joints, and all other definitions that I have seen gives the same definition as such, I assumed that the 5th digit would be 9, as it is not a site (1) but sites (more than 1) according to the definition, mutilple joints =multiple sites, but ok, thanks.
Last edited:
lfisher78
Contributor
I will concede, the hand has multiple joints but the hand itself is one site, thanks for all of your help.