Are You Well Acquainted with the New ICD-9 Codes?

October 1 brought many changes and we hope that you have made yourself well acquainted with the latest ICD-9 changes . Pediatric diagnosis code changes aren't plentiful this year, but there are still quite a few that could result in denied claims if you don't update your forms.

The quiz below is on the new, revised, and deleted codes and will certainly help you decide whether you're on the right track or if you require reviewing your ICD-9 coding skills.

Pin down Flu Codes

Question 1: A 12-year-old patient come with influenza because of recognized novel influenza A virus along with pneumonia. Which code are you supposed to report?

A. 487.0

B. 488.01

C. 488.81

D. 488.82

Answer: C. From Oct. 1, you'll have advantage from novel code 488.81 (Influenza due to identified novel influenza A virus with pneumonia) to define this condition. Earlier, you most probably would have used 487.0 (Influenza with pneumonia), however that code didn't identify the nature of influenza A.

The ICD-9 Committee has reviewed the influenza codes many years in a row now, which may make coding these particular conditions a bit challenging, however the most significant element to remember while reporting these illnesses is to study the documentation for validation of the kind of influenza that the patient has. When uncertain, check any lab reports or inquire the physician to explain.

Remember: You'll also see revised diagnosis code descriptors for the H1N1 codes, as following:

488.11 - i.e. Influenza because of identified 2009 H1N1 influenza virus along with pneumonia

488.12 - i.e. Influenza because of identified 2009 H1N1 influenza virus along with further respiratory manifestations

488.19 -- i.e. Influenza because of identified 2009 H1N1 influenza virus along with further manifestations

Curb TB Test Confusion

Question 2: A patient comes for a tuberculosis skin test. The consequences come back presentating that the patient went through a reaction to the test, though does not have active tuberculosis. Which code are you supposed to report?

A. 795.51

B. 795.5

C. 795.4

D. 795.52

Answer: A. From Oct. 1, the ICD-9 code listing will remove nonspecific code 795.5 (Nonspecific reaction to tuberculin skin test without active tuberculosis) and substitute it with two more definite codes, one of which is the correct answer to the above question, 795.51 (Nonspecific reaction to tuberculin skin test without active tuberculosis).

ICD-9 will also present code 795.52 (Nonspecific reaction to cell mediated immunity measurement of gamma interferon antigen response without active tuberculosis) to distinct out the former 795.5 category.