Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Know Where And When To Report E Codes

Question: I have recently encountered a problem when using E codes to further describe a drug-caused problem. My regional home health intermediary (RHHI) rejects all E codes. I called them and their explanation was that they do not require E codes. They suggested that I have my software company put a patch in so that E codes can be removed from the claims before they are sent. That seems really wrong to me because the coding guidelines require us to report E codes for adverse effects of medication. What do you think?


Wyoming Subscriber


Answer: The official coding guidelines do not require home health agencies to use E codes when describing an injury, but they do require E codes when describing an adverse effect of a medication for the initial encounter. OASIS does accept E codes. You may try using the E code in the specific field for E codes on the claim form, FL77.

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