Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

You'll turn to a V code when your neurologist reports 'no effects,' however. When your neurologist sees a patient who had a stroke, either recently or in the distant past, he may record a number of different conditions -- which makes your job more difficult. If you remember a few guidelines, you'll select the proper ICD-9 codes for every cerebrovascular accident (CVA) case your neurologist treats. Get Specific With 2 CVA Diagnosis Codes When your neurologist sees a patient who has had a stroke, or CVA, he may document multiple deficiencies, both new and lingering. When the patient presents with speech and language deficits you have two diagnosis codes to choose from. To help both differentiate the etiology of speech and language deficits, and to add specificity to those deficits, ICD-9 2010 includes two cerebrovascular disease lateeffects codes: 438.13 (Late effects of cerebrovascular disease, speech and language deficits, dysarthria) and 438.14 [...]