AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2011 Issue 3; Ask the Editor
Encounter Following Failed Newborn Hearing Exam
Coding Clinic First Quarter 2004, page 16, advised the assignment of code 794.15, Abnormal auditory function studies, to describe a newborn who failed a routine hearing examination. What code should be assigned when the infant (less than 29 days old) is referred following failed hearing screening with no further results noted? Is code 779.89, Other specified conditions originating in the perinatal period, appropriate? ...
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Article Overview
This short coding guidance article discusses how to classify a newborn encounter after a failed hearing screening when no additional results are documented. It is relevant to hospital coders, inpatient and outpatient coding staff, and compliance teams who work with newborn screening, perinatal diagnosis coding, and Coding Clinic interpretation.
Why This Topic Matters
Newborn hearing follow-up encounters can be coded differently depending on whether the record documents an abnormal result, a screening follow-up, or another perinatal condition. Correct classification affects diagnosis reporting consistency and supports accurate abstracting for newborn care encounters.
What You Will Learn
- How a newborn follow-up encounter after failed hearing screening is categorized for coding purposes
- How Coding Clinic guidance is used to interpret this type of newborn encounter
- How the article frames the distinction between a screening follow-up and a perinatal condition category in documentation review
- What diagnosis coding area the article focuses on for this specific encounter type
Who Should Read This
- Hospital coders
- Outpatient coders
- Inpatient coders
- Coding auditors
- Compliance professionals
- Revenue cycle staff
Codes Discussed
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