AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2006 Issue 4; VOLUMES 1 AND 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Postnasal Drip
Effective October 1, 2006, code 784.9, Other symptoms involving head and neck has been expanded to create unique codes for postnasal drip (784.91) and other symptoms involving head and neck (784.99). Postnasal drip is excess fluid or mucus production running down the back of the throat. It can be caused by a number of different conditions including colds, flu, sinusitis, and other inflammatory disorders. Signs and symptoms include swelling, and irritation of the sinus lining, leading to bleeding or polyps. Post nasal drip can cause sore throat, or cause a cough that is usually worse at...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article is for coding professionals and clinical staff who need to understand a symptom classification update affecting head-and-neck complaints. It provides background on postnasal drip, notes the effective date of the change, and outlines how the affected symptom category was reorganized within ICD-9-CM.
Why This Topic Matters
Updates to symptom coding can affect documentation review, claim processing, and consistency in reporting common upper-respiratory complaints. Understanding the scope of the change helps users locate the right category in the revised code structure.
Article Sections
-
Overview and Clinical Background
Introduces postnasal drip and describes it in general clinical terms. Also summarizes common associated symptoms and broad causes.
-
ICD-9-CM Code Update
Describes a revision to a head-and-neck symptom category effective October 1, 2006. Notes the related organization of the affected symptom group within the code set.
-
Affected Symptoms Listing
Presents the symptom group referenced in the update, including the items addressed by the revised category structure. This section is focused on the scope of the symptom list rather than detailed coding guidance.
What You Will Learn
- The general clinical context of postnasal drip
- That the article discusses an ICD-9-CM symptom-category update
- Which broad head-and-neck symptom group is affected by the change
- The effective date associated with the update
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Practice managers
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com