Eli's Rehab Report

You Be the Coder:

Policemans Disease

Published on Wed Aug 01, 2001

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Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.

Question: Our physiatrist turned in a diagnosis of hip pain for a patient's problem stemming from a holster. Is this the most appropriate diagnosis, or is "policeman's disease" (ICD-9 729.2 ) more accurate?

Illinois Subscriber

Answer: Policeman's disease, 729.2, is also defined as "neuralgia, neuritis and radiculitis, unspecified," and it doesn't sound as if this most closely matches the physiatrist's assessment of the patient's condition. According to the diagnosis written in the patient's chart, you should use 719.45 (hip pain). If the claim is for a workers' compensation insurer, you should write the cause of injury on the claim form. Don't use an E code for injuries due to firearms, because the insurer will assume that the injury is related to a gunshot.

No matter who the insurer, you should always record the most precise diagnosis. Before you document the claim, ask the physiatrist if there is a more specific description of the patient's condition. If the patient is suffering from something more comprehensive, you can disregard the "hip pain" diagnosis and submit the claim more accurately.

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