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tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2006 Issue 1

Reader Questions: Opt for Dx Over Signs and Symptoms

Question: Can I report signs and symptoms as diagnoses?Florida Subscriber Answer: Multiple sources, including both Medicare and the ICD-9 coding guidelines, instruct that using signs and symptoms is appropriate in the emergency department. If the physician ultimately designates a diagnosis, you should report that diagnosis as well as the signs or symptoms that prompted the patient's treatment in the ED. The key word in that sentence is -if---because if the ED physician doesn't confirm a diagnosis, you might report only the signs and symptoms. For instance, suppose a painter falls from a ladder and presents in the...

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