Wiki External Fetal monitoring IP coding guidance

[jmhohman]

Scenario:

We have a case where the patient presented with malpresentation of the fetus. The plan was to attempt ECV. The fetus was being monitored during the procedure, which failed and was then converted to a Cesarean section.
The word to focus on below is “uncomplicated” labor.
There is no clear guidance reference to what makes a labor/delivery case complicated versus uncomplicated to capture the external fetal monitoring on the facility claim.
Where I can locate any inpatient facility guidance on External fetal monitoring? What are the situations in which a coder would and would not assign a PCS code? Thanks in advance

 

[natashalage]

hello. if you won't get the answer at this specialty, please post this question to OBGYN specialty forum where we have outstanding experts that will assist you. We are So grateful to them!

 

[lynnemcc5]

There are extensive OBGYN guidelines in the front of the ICD book. Moms and babies can be the most confusing to code. When I was coding, the complication that caused the c-section usually was the pdx. Malpresentation is the pdx. Of course, external monitoring was used to detect any issues with the infant's HR or breathing; no dx needed, especially since it is only external. However, since this was converted to surgery, the external monitoring is a superfluous cost that is rolled up in the DRG.