Pediatric Coding Alert

Tip: Skip presenting complaints in outpatient setting if diagnosis is clear.Your CPT codes should always be linked to an appropriate ICD-9 code, but selecting the appropriate ICD-9 code for presenting problems versus underlying conditions can be challenging. Boost your ICD-9 coding skills with this fourstep guide.Step 1: Rely on Current Problem for DiagnosticsEstablishing whether the patient is symptomatic is an important distinction to make when coding.When the pediatrician orders testing on a patient to rule out or confirm a suspected diagnosis because the patient has some sign or symptom, he is performing a diagnostic examination, not a screening, explains Bruce Rappoport, MD, CPC, CHCC, medical director of Broward Health's Best Choice Plus and Total Claims Administration in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In these cases, code the sign or symptom to explain the reason for the test.Sequence: If the patient receives only diagnostic services during the visit, list the diagnosis, condition, problem, [...]