Why ICD-10 codes are important
Are you ready for ICD-10?” And each year, just as we near the brink of converting, someone convinces the powers-that-be we should delay implementation yet again. Companies have invested millions of dollars preparing for the conversion that never comes. The news media reports providers are not ready, and some argue that at this late date we ...
Z36.2 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM Z36.2 became effective on October 1, 2020.
The aftercare Z code should not be used if treatment is directed at a current, acute disease.
Aftercare and Follow-up: ICD-10 Coding 1 The aftercare Z code should not be used if treatment is directed at a current, acute disease. 2 The aftercare Z codes should also not be used for aftercare for injuries.
Those are the guidelines for Diagnostic Coding and Report Guidelines for Outpatient Service. According to that, most facilities – just to give you an idea of what happens in most facilities – if a patient presents to the emergency room, ...
They say specifically under Section II.H, it says Uncertain Diagnosis. If you’re coding for the inpatient hospital facility, you are going to take what the diagnosis says at the time of discharge. Not at the time they’re admitted, but right when we send them home, that discharge summary.
The physician services, those are what we call our professional services, our pro fees, and that doctor can provide services on either place. They can work in their office or they can work in the hospital. Either way, they are considered an outpatient entity, they have to follow the outpatient rules because we’re not billing, they’re not billing for the hospital.
What those guidelines say is if you’re coding for the hospital outpatient department, you do not code for any diagnoses that is documented as “probable,” “suspected,” “questionable,” “rule out,” or “working diagnosis” or anything else that indicate uncertainty; so no “probable,” “likely,” “suspected,” anything like that.