Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert
Understand The Rule Of Nines
PDF
Category 948 is useful any time there are third degree burns or extensive second degree burns. Remember that third degree burns are often surrounded by second degree burns and the guidelines state to only code the highest degree burns of each local site. So there often is no way to show that a larger percentage of the body sustained burns other than with a code from the 948 category. Category 948 is based on the classic "rule of nines" in estimating body surface involved: head and neck are assigned 9 percent, each arm 9 percent, each leg 18 percent, the anterior trunk 18 percent, posterior trunk 18 percent, and genitalia 1 percent. Providers may change these body surface percentage assignments where necessary to accommodate infants and children who have proportionately larger heads than adults and patients who have large buttocks, thighs, or abdomens that have burns. Unless otherwise indicated, reader questions were answered by Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, consultant and principal of Selman-Holman & Associates in Denton, TX.
Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert
- ICD-9 Update:
Prepare Now For Major Changes To MRSA Coding
Soon you'll be coding for colonization and MSSA, too. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is [...] - Know The Difference Between Staph aureus Susceptible, Staph aureus Resistant And Staph aureus Colonization
Before you can select the right code, you'll need to understand the difference between MRSA, [...] - CLIP AND Save:
See How Staph Aureus Coding Will Change Come October
Look for more steps with MRSA. Once the new ICD-9 codes go into effect Oct. [...] - Coding How-To:
Get The Latest On M0246 Q&A
M0246 isn't just for case mix, CMS says. Question: Should we complete M0246 onlywhen a [...] - You Be The Coder:
Know Your Digits For MI
Question: Our new patient had a non-ST-elevation (NSTEMI) myocardial infarction two weeks ago. We are [...] - Inservice Education:
Here's How Your Agency Can Thrive In 2008 And Beyond
Plan now for immediate staff training. Get the latest information on how to survive the [...] - List Serve Discussion:
Proximate Cause Or Underlying Diagnosis?
Question: Medicare asks us to code the proximate diagnosis first in situations such as when [...] - Reader Questions:
Cover Chest Tube With Aftercare
Question: Our patient was hospitalized for a spontaneous pneumothorax and had a chest tube placed. [...] - Reader Questions:
Know Reason For Surgery
Question: We have a new patient with prostate cancer with metastasis to the hip bone. [...] - Reader Questions:
Determine The Cause Before Coding Weakness
Question: How should I report the following scenario: The patient was hospitalized for a urinary [...] - Reader Questions:
Don't Jump To Conclusions With Diabetes
Question: One of my colleagues says that any diabetic who has either hyperlipidemia or hypertension [...] - Reader Questions:
Look To Guidelines Before Assigning 948
Question: On page 45 of your June 2008 issue, you state "If a patient has [...] - Reader Questions:
Understand The Rule Of Nines
Category 948 is useful any time there are third degree burns or extensive second degree [...]