tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2009 Issue 5

READER QUESTIONS: Use V Code for Patient's Past Angioplasty

Question: A patient reports to the ED complaining of chest pain (directly over the heart) after possibly bumping his chest. After a level-three E/M, the physician orders a single-view chest x-ray. The x-ray confirms that the patient did not have a cardiac episode; the notes, however, indicate that the patient had an angioplasty 12 years ago and the physician describes this consideration in the medical decision making. Do I need to note the patient's previous heart procedure on the claim? Minnesota Subscriber Answer: Although the patient did not have a heart attack, you should include a V code (V45...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert.

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