AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2004 Issue 2; Ask the Editor

Facility-Specific Coding Guidelines

Can you clarify the acceptable parameters of facility-specific coding guidelines? We are confused because Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM, First Quarter 2000, page 24, seems to preclude facilities from developing internal guidelines that interpret abnormal findings without querying physicians for their clinical significance. We have seen a coding textbook that seems to contradict this interpretation. The book states “if the endocrinology department’s care plan defines ‘two sequential blood sugars over 600 mg/dl,” as uncontrolled, then the coder may assign the code. This is a fairly common facility guideline. Other common facility guidelines address postoperative blood loss anemia and hypokalemia.” ...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS .


  • The official AHA publication for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding guidelines and advice
  • Current newsletters added each quarter
  • Full Archives - over 3100 articles
  • ALL years/issues back to 1984 organized by year and issue
  • Includes ICD-10-CM/PCS Articles since 2013
  • Fully searchable through Find-A-Code's Comprehensive Search
  • Codes mentioned in articles are linked to Code Information pages
  • Code Information pages link back to related articles
  • View all the articles associated with any code, right from the code page!
Access to this feature is available in the following products:
  • AHA's Coding Clinic® - ICD-10-CM/PCS +Archives

demo
request yours today
subscribe
start today
newsletter
free subscription

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.