Wiki right or left diagnosis codes

[mitzfritz215]

New to coding - need help -

When the doctor writes a diagnosis for right Otitis or any other diagnosis indicating which side; is there a modifier to signify the right or left side? Bilateral, Lateral, etc? I don't see ICD-9-CM modifiers (ONLY HCPCS) but are there other codes to use in the ICD-9-CM book that I would use to further discribe the diagnosis? Right shoulder, left leg, etc??

 

[mitchellde]

not for ICD-9 however in 2 years when we convert to ICD-10 we will have codes for right and left sie specific diagnosis. For now you just code the diagnosis with out regard to laterality.

 

[mitzfritz215]

Thanks Debra