Wiki infant weight check up

[dbut]

What would be the proper ICD-9 code to use for a checkup on an infant's weight progression as the only diagnosis?

 

[lmjd]

I am going to guess that the child is underweight-so we code with the documented E&M level and DX: 783.22. Hope this helps-

 

[pamtienter]

Most of what we see are for failure to thrive 783.41, feeding difficulties 779.3, or low birth weight (a few different code options). If it is just a weight check, it's not something we bill for.

 

[lbloker@optimedmgmt.com]

Infant Weight and Color Check

I asked my boss about this, who as been coding for MANY years and she said that the best code to use would be V20.31

 

[tamijo88]

V20.31 refers to a newborn up to 7 days old, so depending on the age, that wouldn't be appropriate

 

[doctor.ryan.monson@sbcglobal.net]

V20.31 is under 8 days. V20.32 is 8-28 days. Specifically includes weight check. Do you bill E/M level such as 99212 even if there is no problem?

 

[Cynthia Hughes]

More information regarding the infant's age, reason for the weight check, and the service provided would be necessary to answer this. For a newborn seen by a physician or other qualified health care professional within a few days of hospital discharge, this may be the first of recommended preventive services following the hospital discharge with a focus on the infant's feeding and weight, check for signs of jaundice, review of how the mother's adapting to the new baby, and provision anticipatory guidance. If this is follow-up to a feeding problem that still exists, diagnoses previously mentioned may apply or if follow-up indicates there is no longer a problem, a follow-up exam may be reported with code V67.59. If the newborn was seen because a problem was suspected but ruled out at this encounter, codes from category V29 may be applicable.