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Primary Care Coding Alert

Look for Pre-Headache 'Warning Signs' and Avoid Migraine Miscodes

Published on Thu May 21, 2009

Aura, migrainosus info fills 4th and 5th ICD-9 digits. ICD-9 2009 features upward of 30 new and revised migraine codes -- so you must go into greater detail when choosing a diagnosis code for these claims. The key to correct coding lies in deciphering your fourth- and fifth-digit options. Follow this guide to avoid headaches when choosing your migraine codes. Ask About Aura to Get 4th Digit Answers Many of the new and revised migraine codes call for you to check whether or not the patient had an aura with his migraine, confirms Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CCS-P, PCS, ACS-PM, CHCO, owner of Denvers MJH Consulting. Most notable among these codes are 346.0x (Migraine with aura) and 346.1x (Migraine without aura). An aura is a combination of reversible neurological symptoms, or warning signs, that occur just before or at the start of a migraine, Hammer explains. Aura symptoms can include: [...]
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