Specialty Focus -- Pulmonology: Focus Your Diagnosis Coding for Pre-Op Clearance Encounters

Why This Topic Matters

Pre-op clearance visits can be either separately reportable or bundled depending on who performs the visit and where it occurs. Understanding the documentation and diagnosis-code framework helps coding professionals assign claims consistently during the transition from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM.

Article Sections

1. Determine the Setting

   Explains how the location of the clearance encounter and the payer context affect evaluation and management reporting. It also distinguishes the broad categories of office, hospital, and consultation services discussed in the article.

2. Example

   Presents a pulmonology scenario involving surgical clearance and illustrates the general documentation and diagnosis-context considerations tied to the encounter.

3. Watch for ICD-10 Changes

   Reviews the article’s discussion of the transition from ICD-9-CM preoperative diagnosis coding to ICD-10-CM preprocedural coding for these encounters.