Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Match the fibroid's location to code descriptors.

If your ob-gyn regularly performs uterine fibroid removals, then you need to acquaint yourself with the changes that will be happening when Oct. 1, 2013 hits.

Background: Fibroids (or myomas) are larger than polyps and are usually imbedded in the smooth muscle of the uterine wall. They are almost always benign, but in rare circumstances, they can become a sarcoma (muscle cancer). These growths require more work to remove, hence the procedures associated with fibroids tend to have more relative value units (RVUs). They occur in three main locations:

If the physician does not specify the location of the uterine fibroid, assign 218.9 (Leiomyoma of uterus, unspecified) as the diagnosis.

Important: While you should report the procedure code to remove the fibroid based on size, location, and number, you will assign the diagnosis code based only on the type of fibroid.

Look ahead: Once payers start requiring ICD-10, your diagnosis codes will include numbers and letters. For example, ICD-10 2010 lists the previously mentioned fibroid codes as:

Head to http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm#10updateto learn more about ICD-10.