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General Surgery Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Use 'M' Codes at Payer/Facility Request

Published on Sat Sep 13, 2003

Question: What are "M" codes? Should I use them and, if so, when?

California Subscriber Answer: M codes (for example, M8000/0, Neoplasm, benign) are supplemental diagnosis codes (listed in Appendix A of ICD-9) that provide additional information in describing carcinoma and neoplasm morphology. Hospital tumor registries or cancer centers find these codes useful for tracking of tumor histology and behavior, but M codes will not gain you a reimbursement advantage, and payers normally do not require them. Never rely on an M code as a principle diagnosis, and unless you are specifically asked to use these codes by your payer or facility, you needn't worry about them.
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