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Procedure Practice 09/15/00 - Coding Recommendations

Feature Article 09/15/00:

ICD-9-CM Code Changes
as of October 1, 2000

Diagnostic Codes - V Codes - E Codes - Procedure Codes
 

October 1, 2000, marks the effective date for some important ICD-9-CM code changes. It has been two years since the codes were updated, and this year coders will see a number of code additions, deletions, and revisions. This article reviews these changes chapter by chapter.
 

Diagnostic Code Changes

Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (001-139)

Under category 007, Other protozoal diseases, a new subcategory, 007.5, has been added for an intestinal disorder called Cyclosporiasis. This diarrheal illness is caused by ingestion of tiny Cyclospora protozoa often found on imported fruits.

Three codes have been added under category 082, Tick-borne rickettsioses, to identify several different types of a flu-like illness called ehrlichiosis. This illness may occur after being bitten by an arthropod (e.g., a spider).

082.40 Ehrlichiosis, unspecified
082.41 Ehrlichiosis Chafeensis (E.chafeensis)
082.49 Other ehrlichiosis
 

Blood and Blood-Forming Organs (280-289)

The following codes have been added to category 285, Other and unspecified anemias:

285.21 Anemia in end-stage renal disease
285.22 Anemia in neoplastic disease
285.29 Anemia of other chronic disease
 

Mental Disorders (290-319)

As of October 1, code 294.1, Dementia in conditions classified elsewhere, becomes invalid. Instead, coders will need to select one of the two following codes depending upon the type of dementia documented:

294.10 Dementia in conditions classified elsewhere without behavioral disturbance
294.11 Dementia in conditions classified elsewhere with behavioral disturbance
  

Nervous System and Sense Organs (320-389)

Subcategory 372.8, Other disorders of conjunctiva, will be invalid as of October 1. The new codes that appear in this chapter are:

372.81 Conjunctivochalasis
372.89 Other disorders of conjunctiva
 

Respiratory System (460-519)

A total of seven new codes were added to this chapter. Coders may be especially interested in the four new codes that describe exacerbations of chronic asthma. In the past, codes did not exist to identify what is often referred to as "asthma attack," so coders had no means of capturing the acuity of the illness. The new codes that debut in this chapter are:

477.1 Allergic rhinitis due to food
493.02 Extrinsic asthma with acute exacerbation
493.12 Intrinsic asthma with acute exacerbation
493.22 Chronic obstructive asthma with acute exacerbation
493.92 Unspecified asthma with acute exacerbation
494.0 Bronchiectasis without acute exacerbation
494.1 Bronchiectasis with acute exacerbation

Effective October 1, code 494, Bronchiectasis, will no longer be valid.
 

Digestive System (520-579)

Under category 558, Other noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis, code 558.3, Allergic gastroenteritis and colitis, has been added.
 

Genitourinary System (580-629)

Code 600, Hyperplasia of prostate, will be invalid as of October 1. Instead, additional codes have been added to further describe the various types of prostate enlargement:

600.0 Hypertrophy (benign) of prostate
600.1 Nodular prostate
600.2 Benign localized hyperplasia of prostate
600.3 Cyst of prostate
600.9 Hyperplasia of prostate, unspecified
 

Pregnancy, Childbirth, Puerperium (630-677)

As of October 1, the following codes will be invalid:

645.00 Prolonged pregnancy, unspecified as to episode of care or not applicable
645.01 Prolonged pregnancy, delivered, with or without mention of antepartum condition
645.03 Prolonged pregnancy, antepartum condition or complication

Instead, six codes have been created to differentiate between post-term pregnancy (over 40 weeks, but not more than 42 weeks gestation) and prolonged pregnancy (over 42 weeks gestation). The new codes are:

645.10 Post-term pregnancy, unspecified as to episode of care or not applicable
645.11 Post-term pregnancy, with or without mention of antepartum condition
645.13 Post-term pregnancy, antepartum condition or complication
645.20 Prolonged pregnancy, unspecified as to episode of care or not applicable
645.21 Prolonged pregnancy, with or without mention of antepartum condition
645.23 Prolonged pregnancy, antepartum condition or complication
 

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (680-709)

The first new code in this chapter appears in subcategory 692.7, Contact dermatitis and other eczema due to solar radiation. Code 692.75 has been added to describe a condition called disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP). This skin condition occurs in people 30-40 years of age on sun-exposed skin surfaces. Thickened lesions start around the sweat glands and then spread.

Seven new codes were added to subcategory 707.1, Ulcer of the lower limbs, except decubitus, to further specify ulcer sites. Code 707.1 will be invalid as of October 1.

The new codes are:

707.10 Ulcer of lower limb, unspecified
707.11 Ulcer of thigh
707.12 Ulcer of calf
707.13 Ulcer of ankle
707.14 Ulcer of heel and midfoot; plantar surface of midfoot
707.15 Ulcer of other part of foot; toes
707.19 Ulcer of other part of lower limb
 

Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (710-739)

The description for code 723.8, Other syndromes affecting cervical region, has been expanded to include occipital neuralgia.

Code 727.83, Plica syndrome, has been added to identify pathological synovial plica of the knee joint. If you code orthopedic cases, you know that this code has been needed for a long time.
 

Symptoms, Signs and Ill-Defined Conditions (780-799)

Subcategory 781.9, Other symptoms involving nervous and musculoskeletal systems, has been expanded to three codes, thereby making 781.9 invalid as of October 1.

The new codes are:

781.91 Loss of height
781.92 Abnormal posture
781.99 Other symptoms involving nervous and musculoskeletal systems
 

Four codes have been added under subcategory 783.4 to better describe lack of normal physiological development. Consequently, 783.4 will be invalid as of October 1. The new codes are:

783.40 Unspecified lack of normal physiological development
783.41 Failure to thrive
783.42 Delayed milestones
783.43 Short stature
 

To describe adult failure to thrive, code 783.7 has been added.
 

For reporting nonspecific findings on the examination of blood, codes 790.01, Precipitous drop in hematocrit, and 790.09, Other abnormality of red blood cells, have been added.
 

A new subcategory, 792.5, has been added to describe cloudy (hemodialysis) (peritoneal) dialysis effluent.
 

Injury and Poisoning

Two codes have been added to this chapter:

995.7 Other adverse food reactions, not elsewhere classified
996.87 Complications of transplanted organ, intestine

 

V Codes

This chapter contains the largest number of code changes this year. Most of these changes expand existing subcategories to provide further specificity.

Nine new codes appear under V15, Other personal history presenting hazards to health. All nine codes are expansions of subcategory V15.0, Allergy other than to medicinal agents. Therefore, as of October 1, code V15.0 will no longer be valid. The new codes are:

V15.01 Allergy to peanuts
V15.02 Allergy to milk products
V15.03 Allergy to eggs
V15.04 Allergy to seafood
V15.05 Allergy to other foods
V15.06 Allergy to insects
V15.07 Allergy to latex
V15.08 Allergy to radiographic dye
V15.09 Other allergy, other than to medicinal products
  

The following new codes appear under category V21, Constitutional states of development. They are to be used to identify patients whose current health problems may be attributable to low birth weight status.

V21.30 Low birth weight status, unspecified
V21.31 Low birth weight status, less than 500 grams
V21.32 Low birth weight status, 500-999 grams
V21.33 Low birth weight status, 1000-1499 grams
V21.34 Low birth weight status, 1500-1999 grams
V21.35 Low birth weight status, 2000-2500 grams
 

Under code V26, Procreative management, subcategory V26.2 has been deleted and replaced by these more specific codes:

V26.21 Fertility testing
V26.22 Aftercare following sterilization reversal
V26.29 Other investigation and testing

Under category V42, Organ or tissue replaced by transplant, code V42.84 has been added to describe intestinal transplant status.
 

Under V45.7, Acquired absence of organ, the following codes have been added:

V45.74 Acquired absence of organ, other parts of urinary tract
V45.75 Acquired absence of organ, stomach
V45.76 Acquired absence of organ, lung
V45.77 Acquired absence of organ, genital organs
V45.78 Acquired absence of organ, eye
V45.79 Other acquired absence of organ
 

Subcategory V49.8, Other specified problems influencing health status, will no longer be valid as of October 1. The new codes that replace this subcategory are:

V49.81

Postmenopausal status (age-related) (natural)

V49.89 Other specified conditions influencing health status
 

The following codes have been added to category V56, Encounter for dialysis and dialysis catheter care:

V56.31 Encounter for adequacy testing for hemodialysis
V56.32 Encounter for adequacy testing for peritoneal dialysis
 

Code V58.83, Encounter for therapeutic drug monitoring, has been added to subcategory V58.8, Other specified procedures and aftercare.
 

Subcategory V67.0, Follow-up examination following surgery, will be will be replaced with the following new codes:

V67.00 Follow-up examination, following unspecified surgery
V67.01 Follow-up vaginal Pap smear, status post hysterectomy for malignant conditions
V67.09 Follow-up examination following other surgery
 

Subcategory V71.8 has been expanded to include two new codes:

V71.81 Observation for other specified suspected conditions, abuse and neglect
V71.89 Observation for other specified suspected conditions
  

The following new codes have been added to category V76. The additional codes render subcategory V76.8, Special screening for malignant neoplasms, other neoplasm, invalid:

V76.46 Special screening for malignant neoplasms, ovary
V76.47 Special screening for malignant neoplasms, vagina
V76.50 Special screening for malignant neoplasms,intestine, unspecified
V76.51 Special screening for malignant neoplasms, colon
V76.52 Special screening for malignant neoplasms, small intestine
V76.81 Special screening for malignant neoplasms, nervous system
V76.89 Special screening for other malignant neoplasm
 

Code V77.9, Screening for other and unspecified endocrine, nutritional, metabolic, and immunity disorders, becomes invalid on October 1 with the addition of the following two new codes:

V77.91 Screening for lipoid disorders; screening cholesterol level; screening for hypercholesterolemia; screening for hyperlipidemia
V77.99 Other and unspecified endocrine, nutritional, metabolic, and immunity disorders

V82.8, Special screening for other specified conditions, has been replaced with the following two new codes:

V82.81 Special screening for osteoporosis
V82.89 Special screening for other specified conditions

  

E Codes

If you code accidents and injuries, you may have had problems in the past classifying falls from skateboards, snowboards, and other recreational gear. If so, you will appreciate the following additions to category 885, Fall on same level from slipping, tripping, or stumbling:

E885.1 Fall from roller skates
E885.2 Fall from skateboard
E885.3 Fall from skis
E885.4 Fall from snowboard
E885.9 Fall from other slipping, tripping or stumbling
 

Two new codes have been added under separate categories to describe accidental and deliberate (i.e., assault by) human bites.

E928.3 Other and unspecified environmental and accidental causes; accidental human bite
E968.7 Assault by human bite

 

Procedure Code Changes

Operations on the Cardiovascular System (35-39)

A new subcategory with two new codes appears under category 39, Other operations on vessels. The subcategory is 39.7, Endovascular repair of vessel; endoluminal repair. The codes are:

39.71 Endovascular implantation of graft in abdominal aorta
39.79 Other endovascular graft repair of aneurysm
 

Operations on Hemic and Lymphatic System (40-41)

Three new codes appear under subcategory 41.0, Bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplant. They are:

41.07 Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant with purging
41.08 Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant with purging
41.09 Autologous bone marrow transplant with purging (with extracorporeal purging of malignant cells from marrow)
 

Operations on the Digestive System (42-54)

A single new code appears under category 46.9, Other operations on intestine:

46.97 Transplant of intestine
 

Operations on Male Genital Organs (60-64)

Two new codes have been added to subcategory 60.9, Other operations on prostate, to identify microwave destruction procedures:

60.96 Transurethral destruction of prostate tissue by microwave thermography
60.97 Other transurethral destruction of prostate tissue by other thermography
 

Operations on the Integumentary System (85-86)

Although no new codes have been added to this section, revisions to the category and code titles for skin closure have been made to include closure of skin with staples or adhesives.

Text changes in the following category and code descriptions are underlined. The new titles now read:

86.5 Suture or other closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue
86.59 Closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue of other sites; Adhesives, (surgical) (tissue); Staples; Sutures
 

Miscellaneous Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures (87-99)

One new code appears under category 99.7, Therapeutic apheresis:

99.75 Administration of neuroprotective agent

 

Practice Makes Perfect!

Are you ready for some hands-on practice? Code the examples on our Procedure Practice page based on codes effective October 1, 2000, and compare your answers with our coding recommendations. Good luck!

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If you have comments or suggestions about our code selections or about any topic on our Coding Edge® pages, please e-mail us at codingedge@lagunamedsys.com.

Please understand, however, that we cannot answer inquiries
unless they relate directly to our published material.

Bibliography - References:
Federal Register, May 5, 2000
Health Care Finance Administration Web Site: www.hcfa.gov : ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting notes from 11/12/99, 5/13/99, 11/2/98 and 6/4/98.
Notice: This part of our web site was prepared to assist in understanding and maintaining good coding skills. For proper use of this feature, reference must be made to official coding guidelines when necessary. The information here presented is only to be used as a supplement to those guidelines. Laguna Medical Systems, Inc., makes no representations or guarantees as to amounts that will be paid by Medicare or other third party payers.

 

Please be aware that the Coding Edge® Archive pages are NOT retroactively updated
to reflect possible coding rules and regulation changes made after the publishing date.