Primary Care Coding Alert

Our clip-and-post chart reveals upcoming family practice diagnostic changes Does your practice face denials when a mother presents with her asymptomatic child who was recently exposed to chickenpox? You can rest easy, thanks to the new edition of ICD-9. ICD-9 now contains more than 20 "contact with or exposure to" codes, but nothing specific to varicella exposure. If you examine an asymptomatic child for varicella due to possible exposure, you have to submit the nonspecific code V01.7 (Contact with or exposure to communicable diseases; other viral diseases). When the new ICD-9 codes become effective on Oct. 1 (check payers'specific implementation dates), you'll be able to assign V01.71 (... varicella). In addition to adding V01.71 to your encounter form, make sure to update V72.3 (Special investigations and examinations; gynecological examination). This code will require a fifth digit of "1" as of Oct. 1, to indicate "Routine gynecological examination." Afifth digit of "2" will indicate "Encounter for Papanicolaou cervical smear to confirm findings of recent normal smear following initial abnormal smear."

Upcoming Family Practice Coding Alert issues will keep you abreast of V code additions and other ICD-9 2005 changes, including expert advice on how to implement useful new family practice diagnostic codes. Here's a sneak peek at the new codes you can expect this fall.