Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Published on Sat Apr 09, 2011 PDF

You'll replace 'E' code with 'V' code under ICD-10.

CMS has repeatedly confirmed that it will not push back the deadlines for the conversion to ICD-10, so you'll need to have your ICD-10 coding skills ready by Oct. 1, 2013. Check out the following examples of how ICD-10 will change your coding options for this commonly-seen condition.

Prepare for New Way to Report MVAs

Your physician probably sees patients who want to get checked out after the car in which they're traveling gets hit by another motor vehicle. In these instances, you currently report E812.1 (Other motor vehicle traffic accident involving collision with motor vehicle, Passenger in motor vehicle other than motorcycle) following the codes for the patient's injuries, but that all changes in 2013.

When the ICD-10 transition takes place, you'll insteadreport V49.59x? (Passenger injured in collision with other motor vehicles in traffic accident) along with the code(s) for the patient's injuries. You'll note that this code followed by the characters "x?" That's because to bill this code, you'll need to add a seventh character in place of the question mark. You will select that seventh character from the following three options:

• A --nitial encounter
• D --ubsequent encounter
• S --equela

Documentation: Your physicians must not only document the note clearly and completely as they have in the past, but they also must make clear whether the patient is being seen for an initial encounter, a subsequent encounter, or due to sequela (a condition that's a result of a prior medical issue).

Coder Tips: Educate your physicians on the importance of documenting the details that will allow you to accurately assign a seventh digit to the ICD-10 code, and let them know that they must record whether an encounter is initial, subsequent, or due to sequel. In addition, list these coding options on your superbill so the physician will be sure to circle the correct option.