Wiki Help with ICD-9 coding for referrals

[cbeste]

I posted the following a while back under the "Diagnosis Coding" section and didn't receive any responses, so I am hoping posting it here will help generate a response:

I would greatly appreciate some help. Our electronic medical system requires that when a referral for a mammogram is given, an ICD-9 code is attached to it. Usually V70.0 cannot be added as a diagnosis for the visit because the patient has come in for a problem-based visit (e.g. hypertension follow-up) and the doctor then decides to give them a referral for a regular screening mammogram. It is my understanding that V76.10 or V76.19 would be used if a manual breast exam was given and V76.11 or V76.12 whould be used only at the facility that is providing the mammogram. What diagnosis code can I link with the referral for a mammogram to an outside facility? We have the same issue with colonoscopy referrals. Thanks very much.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[mitchellde]

You can use the screening V codes to communicate a referral you just cannot use them on the claim for the office encounter when it is ordered.

 

[cbeste]

Thanks very much for the response. So there is no way to show on the claim form that a referral was given for a regular screening mammogram and/or colonoscopy at a problem-based visit?

 

[mitchellde]

Thanks very much for the response. So there is no way to show on the claim form that a referral was given for a regular screening mammogram and/or colonoscopy at a problem-based visit?

That is correct.