Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Question:

A Suspected Problem Means You Should Report V28.82

Question: We have an ob patient that is 21 weeks pregnant that had a transvaginal ultrasound (76817). The patient has a history of LEEPs. Do we need to use threatened code for cervical length? If so, what is the diagnosis code?

South Dakota Subscriber

Answer: If you mean 649.7x (Cervical shortening complicating pregnancy childbirth or the puerperium), the answer would be no -- unless she has a short cervix as a result of the scan. The ob-gyn suspects a problem, so you should go with V28.82 (Encounter for screening for risk of pre-term labor) because he is doing it to screen for pre-term labor (to see if she has a short cervix which is a risk factor for it).

ICD-10: When your diagnosis coding system changes, the 649.7x will become the O26.87- (Cervical shortening) series. Code V28.82 will become Z36 (Encounter for antenatal screening of mother).

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