maudys
Networker
If a patient has chronic neck and back pain, and the physician indicates that it is "exacerbated" on this encounter, can I assign acute pain?
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Wiki Acute vs chronic pain
- Thread starter maudys
- Start date
007CPC
Guest
- Messages
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I wouldn't. Try to only code what is documented.
RNCPC0709
Networker
An exacerbation of chronic pain wouldn't mean that the patient now has acute pain dx, only that the chronic pain issue is worse d/t the exacerbation. I would code this as chronic pain based on the info given in your post.
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maudys
Networker
what if the physician documents "chronic pain with acute flare up"? I know, I'm grasping.
hthompson
Guru
I like this question and was hoping more eyes could look at it and respond?
My MD wrote Acute flare-up of Chronic Back Pain
Still chronic back pain only?
My MD wrote Acute flare-up of Chronic Back Pain
Still chronic back pain only?
Walker22
Guest
Still chronic back pain only.