Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: In 2009, our ICD-9 cheat sheet lists 784.49 for hoarseness. Will the code change using ICD-9 2010?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: Yes, if you look up "hoarseness" in ICD-9 2010's Alphabetic Index, the entry directs you to 784.42 (Dysphonia). ICD-9 2010 has removed the symptom of "hoarseness" from under 784.49 (Other voice and resonance disorders) and put it under new code 784.42.