tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2016 Issue 7

You Be the Coder: Scrutinize Primary ICD-10 'Z' Codes

Question: Can we use “Z” codes as a primary diagnosis? For instance, if the surgeon sees a patient to remove an existing gastrostomy tube, should we report Z43.1 as the diagnosis for the encounter? Louisiana Subscriber Answer: Yes, “Z codes are allowed as primary codes when they are the best description for the main reason a patient is being seen,” says Judy Adams, RN, BSN, HCS-D, AHIMA approved ICD-10-CM Trainer, with Adams Home Care Consulting in Asheville, N.C. You could accurately report the case you describe using Z43.1 (Encounter for attention to gastrostomy)...

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