• If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ & read the forum rules. To view all forums, post or create a new thread, you must be an AAPC Member. If you are a member and have already registered for member area and forum access, you can log in by clicking here. If you've forgotten the password it can be reset on our sign in section by entering your registered Email Address or Username here. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below..

Wiki Sign/Symptoms vs. Diabetic Manifestations

nolagirl

Contributor
Messages
22
Best answers
0
Does anyone have any written guidelines re using signs/symptoms vs. diabetic manifestations to support complicated diabetes? A provider is using persistent microalbuminuria to support her Dx code of 250.40. She is also using numbness/tingling "suggestive" of neuropathy to support her Dx code of 250.60. And to support her Dx code of 250.50, she is using cataract/glaucoma (instead of diabetic cataract/diabetic glaucoma). ICD-9 gives specified diabetic manifestation codes listed under complicated diabetes. Codes from the category of signs/symptoms are not included in these specified codes. So, the question is: Can signs/symptoms be used to support a Dx of complicated diabetes? Thanks in advance for your help! :)
 
No you cannot use signs and symptoms as a manifestation, "suggestive of" is not something we are able to code so this cannot be a complication of diabetes either and for a cateract to be coded as a complication the physician must state the relationship and not infer it, as you have state dibetic cateract of caterat due to diabetes.
 
Top