Most ICD-9 codes are three digits to the left of a decimal point and one or two digits to the right of one. For example: 250.0 is diabetes with no complications. 530.81 is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 079.99 is a virus. Some ICD-9 codes have a "V" or "E" in front of them.
We often hear members refer to it as a decimal point in the ICD-9 code. We will try not to use this terminology because it misleads us in to thinking that the ICD-9 code is a decimal number. The diagnosis code (ICD-9) code is not really a decimal number. It is a hierarchical code.
The format for ICD-9 diagnoses codes is a decimal placed after the first three characters and two possible add-on characters following: xxx.xx. ICD-9 PCS were used to report procedures for inpatient hospital services from Volume 3, which represent procedures that were done at inpatient hospital facilities.
The way that Therabill displays the ICD-9 code depends on where it is being displayed. When putting the ICD-9 code in to Box 21 of the CMS-1500, Therabill takes the first 3 characters (first 4 characters if the first character is an 'E') and puts it before the pre-formatted period on the CMS-1500.
For example, ICD-9 Diagnosis Codes submitted in Field 15 must begin with the letter "E". See Chapter IV of the Section 111 NGHP User Guide for the complete set of requirements related to these fields.
What is an E-code? An external cause of injury code or E-code is used when a patient presents to a healthcare provider with an injury. The E-code is part of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system used in clinical settings to characterize and standardize health events.
Layout and Organization ICD-10-CM is a seven-character, alphanumeric code. Each code begins with a letter, and that letter is followed by two numbers. The first three characters of ICD-10-CM are the “category.” The category describes the general type of the injury or disease.
Both systems also expand the number of characters allotted from five and four respectively to seven alpha-numeric characters. This value does not include the decimal point, which follows the third character for the ICD-10-CM code set. There is no decimal point in the ICD-10-PCS code set.
General guidelines for ICD-9 coding Code to the highest degree of specificity. Carry the code to the fourth or fifth digit when possible. Link the diagnosis code (ICD-9) to the service code (CPT) on the insurance claim form to identify why the service was rendered, thereby establishing medical necessity.
The ICD-9-CM consists of: a tabular list containing a numerical list of the disease code numbers in tabular form; an alphabetical index to the disease entries; and. a classification system for surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures (alphabetic index and tabular list).
In ICD-10-CM codes, the decimal point comes after the category, which is the first three characters. If the code is only three characters, the decimal is not used. The alpha characters are not case sensitive, which means that either an upper case or lower case may be entered and will be scored properly.
three digits2) ICD-9-CM Principal and Other Diagnosis Codes are three, four, or five characters long. The Basic code structure is three digits, but some codes are more specific with fourth and sometimes a fifth digit subdivision. Codes should always be assigned to the highest level of specificity.
Codes in the ICD-10-CM code set can have anywhere from three to seven characters. The more characters there are, the more specific the diagnosis. The first character is always alpha (i.e., a letter), but characters two through seven can be either alpha or numeric.
Begin the process by looking for the main term in the alphabetic index. After locating the term, review the sub terms to find the most specific code available.
MLA (7th ed.) Icd-9-cm: International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification. Salt Lake City, Utah: Medicode, 1996. Print.
Most ICD-9 codes are three digits to the left of a decimal point and one or two digits to the right of one. For example: 250.0 is diabetes with no complications. 530.81 is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Structure of Disease Codes Disease codes in ICD-9-CM may be three, four, or five digits in length. The basic structure is three digits, but some are further subdivided by the addition of fourth-digits and many of these contain even greater specificity by use of fifth digit subclassifications.
14 (E878–E879) Surgical and medical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of patient or later complication, without mention of misadventure at the time of procedure. 15 (E880–E888) Accidental falls. 16 (E890–E899) Accidents caused by fire and flames.
E945 Agents primarily acting on the smooth and skeletal muscles and respiratory system causing adverse effects in therapeutic use . E946 Agents primarily affecting skin and mucous membrane ophthalmological otorhinolaryngological and dental drugs causing adverse effects in therapeutic use.
E831.1 Accident to watercraft causing other injury to occupant of small boat, powered. E831.2 Accident to watercraft causing other injury to occupant of other watercraft—crew. E831.3 Accident to watercraft causing other injury to occupant of other watercraft—other than crew.
The diagnosis code (ICD-9) code is not really a decimal number. It is a hierarchical code. The first three (sometimes first four if preceded by an 'E') represents the general category and the numbers after the period are used for specificity (more specific sub-categories).
For this reason, we will refer to it as a dot separator instead of a decimal point. The short answer to the question of whether you need to enter the dot separator when entering the ICD-9 code in to Therabill is, no, it does not matter. In fact, Therabill will actually remove the dot separator for storage. For information about adding diagnosis ...