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Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

ICD-9: Always Code Present Illness First

Published on Tue Oct 25, 2011

Question: The physician notes state: condition -- aspiration pneumonia; patient has dysphagia due to old CVA. Should I only code the aspiration pneumonia or should I also code the dysphagia?Alabama SubscriberAnswer: PP condition, dysphagia (787.2), which may be what caused or aggravated 507.0. If the physician determines dysphagia to be a late effect of CVA, you would report 438.82 (Dysphagia cerebrovascular disease) instead of 787.2.
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