| July 2006 · Vol. 18, No. 7 REIMBURSEMENT ADVISER
Use OB or GYN code if fetal pole is absent?
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Fast Track
Insurance coverage can be expected only if the CDC will recommend HPV vaccination
as standard
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Melanie
Witt,
RN, CPC-OGS, MAIndependent coding and documentation consultant; former program manager, Department of Coding and Nomenclature, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Q When a patient has a sonogram to check for fetal heart tones and only a gestational sac (g-sac) with no fetal pole is found, is the sonogram coded as a limited OB or a GYN ultrasound, because the patient is not pregnant? Also, for a diagnosis of g-sac with no fetal pole, is it correct to code a blighted ovum (usually these patients are less than 10 weeks pregnant)?
A Technically, when a gestational sac is present, the patient is still pregnant, so the GYN codes are inappropriate. And yes, you should assign the diagnostic code for blighted ovum (ICD-9-CM code 631).
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