Are you monitoring a pregnant patient who had gastric banding or stapling?
There’s a code for that, as of Oct. 1.
Have you seen female genital cutting or mutilation in your practice?
There is a code for that.
Has your patient’s obesity made it difficult to obtain a diagnostic image?
You get the picture.
The new International Diagnostic Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) adds specific codes for these and other disorders.
Cancer codes clinch the case
Specific codes now describe findings that indicate a cancer diagnosis and support appropriate treatment.
Estrogen receptor status
V86.0 Estrogen receptor positive
V86.1 Estrogen receptor negative
The 2007 ICD-9-CM adds a new category: estrogen receptor status. This bit of diagnostic information is an important indicator of the type of treatment to which breast cancer will be responsive. For instance, an estrogen-receptor–positive (ER+) finding means estrogen is causing the tumor to grow. This information in conjunction with a primary diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the breast (ICD-9-CM codes 174.0–174.9) instantly gives the payer a snapshot of the patient’s condition and supports hormone suppression treatment.
Elevated tumor markers
795.81 Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA]
795.82 Elevated cancer antigen 125 [CA 125]
795.89 Other abnormal tumor markers
Previously, an elevated CA-125 tumor marker was reported using the unspecified code 790.99 (other nonspecific findings in blood), but with the addition of a new code subcategory, 795.8x, to report elevated tumor-associated and specific antigens, this will no longer be a problem.
Abnormal cervical cytology
795.06 Papanicolaou smear of cervix with cytologic evidence of malignancy
The inclusion term “cytologic evidence of carcinoma” was deleted from code 795.04 (Papanicolaou smear of cervix and cervical HPV). A new code reports this finding, and this new code is now an “excludes” diagnosis under code 233.1 (carcinoma in situ of cervix uteri). Furthermore, code 233.1 has a new inclusion definition: cervical intraepithelial glandular neoplasia.
OB complications
649.xx Other conditions or status of the mother, complicating pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium
Preexisting conditions are covered in the new category.
Bariatric surgery and pregnancy
649.2X Bariatric surgery status complicating pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium
Until now, if you were monitoring a pregnant woman more closely because of her previous bariatric surgery, your only option was code 648.93 (other current conditions, classifiable elsewhere). The new code is for any intervention required during the pregnancy, if the mother has had obesity surgery such as gastric banding or gastric stapling.
A 5th digit must be appended: 0, unspecified episode of care; 1, delivered with or without mention of antepartum condition; 2, delivered with postpartum condition; 3, antepartum condition or complication; 4, postpartum complication.
Smoking, obesity, epilepsy, and more
649.0 [0–4] Tobacco use disorder
You must clearly indicate that the patient’s current smoking is complicating the management of her pregnancy.
649.1 [0–4] Obesity
A secondary code for type of obesity is required; for instance, 278.01 (morbid obesity).
649.3 [0–4] Coagulation defects
A second code from the 286 category (coagulation defects) must be added to identify the exact condition. If a coagulation defect causes antepartum hemorrhage, the correct code is 641.3x. A coagulation defect that appears only in the postpartum period is coded 666.3x.
649.4 [0–4] Epilepsy
A secondary code identifies the type of epilepsy (345.00–345.91). However, if the patient has eclampsia, use the code 642.6 (eclampsia with convulsions).
649.5 [0, 1, 3] Spotting
This code will be used predominately in early pregnancy when spotting is the chief complaint and there is no evidence of miscarriage. Note that the allowable 5th digits for this code exclude 2 and 4, because spotting is not considered a complication in the postpartum period. If the patient is bleeding heavily, other existing codes would be selected, such as 640.0x (threatened abortion) or 641.1x (hemorrhage from placenta previa).
649.6 [0–4] Uterine size-date discrepancy
This condition, which was formerly included under 646.8x (other specified complications of pregnancy), is used most often when an ultrasound is performed to date the pregnancy, especially when the last monthly period is unknown.
666.1x Other immediate postpartum hemorrhage
This code is revised, and now specifies uterine atony with hemorrhage. Uterine atony without hemorrhage is coded 669.8x.
More specific “other” codes
Several “other”-type codes for gynecologic conditions got more specific. For example, 2 new, more specific, 5-digit codes replace code 616.8 (other specified inflammatory diseases of cervix, vagina, and vulva).