decisionhealth Newsletters, Answer Books - 2008 Issue 5 (May)
Answer_Book / Tests_Professional_Technical_Components / ICD-9-CM_coding_for_diagnostic_tests
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Article Overview
This article covers ICD-9-CM outpatient coding guidance for diagnostic tests performed in settings such as physician offices and radiology or pathology encounters. It focuses on how interpreting physicians should approach diagnosis reporting when tests are ordered for signs or symptoms, when results confirm a condition, when results are normal, and when the referring diagnosis is uncertain. The content is aimed at medical coders, billers, and clinicians who document or report diagnostic test encounters.
Why This Topic Matters
Correct diagnosis reporting for diagnostic tests affects claim accuracy, medical record consistency, and compliant outpatient coding. The article helps readers understand the general framework used when test results differ from the ordering diagnosis or when a study does not confirm a condition.
What You Will Learn
- How outpatient ICD-9-CM coding guidance applies to diagnostic test interpretation
- How diagnostic test results can influence diagnosis reporting
- How normal or non-diagnostic test results are handled in general coding guidance
- How uncertain referring diagnoses are treated in the context of diagnostic testing
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- Physicians
- Pathologists
- Radiologists
- Clinical documentation staff
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