Wiki Up Arrow Indicating Elevated Cholesterol

redpoppy

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A recent audit pointed out that, per Coding Clinic, we cannot code 272.0 if a physician writes an up arrow preceding cholesterol as a dx on a lab order. We cannot find the CC citation for this. Please reply if you know.
Thank you for your time.
 
This is true...an "up arrow" is NOT an approved "abbreviation" and is a very bad habit doctors have developed. I do not have the documentation unfortunately, but know this is a true statement. If someone can provide that supporting documentation it would be wonderful! One question - was this an outside audit? Could they not provide the supporting information?
 
Arrow for High Cholesterol

We have a chart that is a handwritten chart and in PMH shows and arrow up for High Cholesterol and in assessment is shows an arrow up Chol and states on Statin. Since he is showing treatment for High Cholesterol can we accept the arrow up and code high cholesterol? I can not find any other documentation but hope that since the statement showing he prescribed a med for high cholesterol is enough to accept it. We can not Query the physician. Any Thoughts? Thanks!
 
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