NAS conditions

[valleycoder]

Hi all,

Would you consider NAS scoring conditions to be withdrawal symptoms if the provider is stating "NAS scores range from 3-8 for tremors, increased tone and excessive suck". I'm trying to determine if these are withdrawal symptoms to support P96.1.

Thanks!

 

[grepay]

I was trained to only use P96.1 once morphine has been initiated. I have nothing more to offer on the subject as the only guidance I can get on this subject comes from what other coders say to do were I am employed (hospital). I cannot find anything on newborns with NAS scoring to supporting coding dx or procedures. Not even here on the AAPC forum.

 

[Cynthia Hughes]

Hi all,

Would you consider NAS scoring conditions to be withdrawal symptoms if the provider is stating "NAS scores range from 3-8 for tremors, increased tone and excessive suck". I'm trying to determine if these are withdrawal symptoms to support P96.1.

Thanks!

I would not assign P96.1 without the physician documenting the diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome or withdrawal. I would ask the physician to state a diagnosis in the record because there are other reasons a child may have symptoms similar to NAS.

The NAS score is used to determine if pharmalogical therapy is needed not whether the child has neonatal abstinence syndrome.
AAP Guidelines - Drug therapy is indicated to relieve moderate to severe signs of NAS and to prevent complications such as fever, weight loss, and seizures if an infant does not respond to a committed program of non-pharmacologic support.

However, if there is no definitive diagnosis of NAS is stated, symptoms could be report (e.g., tremors) in addition newborn affected by maternal use of opiates (assuming documented). I hope that is helpful. Cindy