decisionhealth Newsletters, Coder Pink Sheets - 2006 Issue 9 (September)
Look for “septic” dx before billing lesser-paid abortion
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Article Overview
This article is for obstetric-gynecology coders and billing staff who need to understand how operative documentation affects abortion-related claim selection. It discusses how a septic abortion should be identified in the record, why that distinction matters for code selection and payment, and how the relevant diagnosis code categories are organized in ICD-9-CM.
Why This Topic Matters
Correctly recognizing documentation of pelvic infection in an abortion case can affect which procedure code and diagnosis category are reported and can change reimbursement. The article highlights the importance of postoperative diagnosis wording and the need to avoid relying on vague infection references alone.
What You Will Learn
- How abortion-related operative documentation affects code selection
- Why postoperative diagnosis wording matters in abortion cases
- How diagnosis categories are organized for abortion cases complicated by infection
- What documentation elements are generally referenced when a pelvic infection is involved
Who Should Read This
- ObGyn coders
- Medical billers
- Coding auditors
- Obstetric-gynecology practice staff
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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