AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2000 Second Quarter
Ask the Editor
A woman with a family history of breast cancer comes into the physician's office to discuss her risk factors for developing breast cancer and to evaluate whether she should have routine screening or therapy (i.e., gene therapy, tamoxifen therapy, etc.). How would an initial encounter for breast cancer risk assessment be coded? The patient has not developed breast cancer, nor has she been taking tamoxifen in the past. ...
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Article Overview
This Ask the Editor article explains how to think about coding a breast cancer risk assessment encounter and a subsequent preventive therapy visit in a patient with a family history of breast cancer. It is aimed at coding professionals who need to classify counseling and preventive-management encounters, and it highlights the types of diagnosis coding considerations involved in these scenarios.
Why This Topic Matters
Correctly classifying preventive counseling and risk-assessment encounters helps ensure the record reflects the purpose of the visit and the patient’s documented history, which is important for coding accuracy and claim consistency.
What You Will Learn
- How this article approaches a breast cancer risk assessment encounter
- What broader coding considerations are raised by a preventive therapy follow-up visit
- How family history is relevant to the coding discussion in this scenario
- How this Ask the Editor format addresses preventive counseling and screening questions
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Physician practice staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
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