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Pediatric Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Avoid Assigning Primary E Codes

Published on Sat Dec 06, 2003

Question: When should we report an E code as the primary diagnosis code?
     
South Dakota Subscriber
 
Answer: Never - E codes can be used in addition to other ICD-9 codes (001 to V82.9), but they should never stand alone or be linked directly to a CPT code as the reason a service was performed.
 
Use E codes to provide the payer with a more complete picture of the patient's condition. More specifically, E codes are used to tell the payer "how the injury or poisoning happened (cause), the intent (unintentional or accidental; or intentional, such as suicide or assault), and the place where the event occurred," according to the AMA's Principles of ICD-9-CM Coding.
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