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Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Pick Proper Remission Code

Published on Mon Oct 01, 2007

Question: I-m having trouble finding a -history of- code to describe plasma cell leukemia in remission. Which code should I use?


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Answer: The correct code is 203.11 (Plasma cell leukemia; in remission), rather than a -history of- code.

The fifth digit allows you to describe a leukemia diagnosis as being in remission. For example, if you change the fifth digit and report 203.10 (- without mention of remission), you would be telling the payer that the doctor did not document that the patient was in remission.  
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