Reader Question:
E Codes
Published on Wed Aug 01, 2001
Question: What are E codes, and should I be using them?
Nevada Subscriber
Answer: The "E" in E codes stands for External Causes of Injury and Poisoning. E codes give the carrier an account of how an accident occurred that resulted in a diagnosis. They can help in the reimbursement process, especially if the patient is slow to get accident information to the carrier. E codes should always be used as a secondary or adjunct diagnosis, and you should check with your carriers in advance to determine whether they accept them. If a carrier does not accept E codes, submitting them could cause the claim to pend or be rejected.
See "Use E Codes Properly With the Diagnosis Code To Avoid Denials" in the February 2001 issue of Orthopedic Coding Alert for more on using E codes for optimal reimbursement.
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