Wiki screening or diagnostic

[heldermanb]

I have an order for mammogram
Dx given is. Screening, breast pain

Do I code this as screening primary and breast pain secondary or just do the breast pain?
I do diagnostic coding and we at having the debate that the doctor order a screening so it is a screening even tho he also has a complaint of breast pain listed. I thought that if there is a complaint that it is considered a diagnostic test not a screening

Can someone help me with this and maybe point me in the direction to finding the guidelines ?

 

[mitchellde]

If the patient is symptomatic then it can not be screening. The testing of an individual to investigate symptoms or confirm a diagnosis is the definition of a diagnositic test.