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Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

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New and Old Ulcer Coding

Published on Thu Jul 01, 2004 Print Friendly and PDF PDF

Question: The patient is admitted to the home health agency with a disruption of a surgical wound, which has also cultured out MRSA. The patient also has stage-2 decubitus ulcers on the coccyx. How should I code this prior to, and after, Oct. 1?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: Here's how you'd report the patient's condition prior to Oct. 1, 2004, arranged by OASIS form slot:

  • 230a -- 998.32 (Disruption of external operation wound)
  • 240b -- 998.59 (Other postoperative infection [use additional code to identify infection])
  • 240c -- 041.11 (Staph aureus)
  • 240d - V09.0 (Infection with microorganisms resistant to penicillins)
  • 240e -- 707.0 (Decubitus ulcer).

    After Oct. 1, your codes will be the same, with one exception: Instead of 707.0 for the ulcer, you'll assign the more specific 707.03 (Decubitus ulcer, lower back) in 240e. You don't need a V code for surgical aftercare because you're in the home to care for the wound, not the original incision.

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