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Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

You Can Use 8 ICD-9 Codes

Published on Sun Mar 18, 2007

Question: I heard that we could use more than four diagnosis codes on an individual Medicare claim. Is this true?


Arizona Subscriber
Answer: Yes. In the past, you-ve been limited to only four diagnosis codes on your Medicare claims, but that limitation doubles in 2007. According to an MLN Matters release, Medicare will process up to eight diagnosis codes, effective for claims processed July 1, 2007, and later. If you-re the one who has to reconfigure practice management systems, you should start preparing now.

Resource: MLN Matters covers this in MM5441, online at  www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5441.pdf. Clinical and coding expertise for this issue provided by Michael Weinstein, MD, a gastroenterologist in Washington, D.C., and former member of the AMA's CPT Advisory Panel; and Linda Parks, MA, CPC, CMC, CMSCS, an independent coding consultant in Atlanta.
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