ICD-9 2009 Update: Learn New Headache Breakdowns Now to Prevent Denials Later

Why This Topic Matters

Headache diagnoses were being reorganized into more specific ICD-9-CM categories, so coders needed to recognize the new structure to support accurate reporting and reduce denials.

Article Sections

1. Cluster, tension and post-traumatic subsets

   Introduces the article’s focus on newly defined headache categories in ICD-9-CM. Summarizes the broad types of headache groupings covered in the update.

2. Go to 339.0x for One-Sided Headaches

   Discusses the cluster-headache-related category and related subgroups within the updated headache classification. Notes that the section centers on unilateral and trigeminal autonomic headache groupings.

3. Take the Stress Out of Coding TTH

   Covers the tension-type headache category within the 2009 update. Describes the general distinction between the newly introduced tension-type groupings.

4. PTH Gains 3 Codes

   Addresses the post-traumatic headache category in the ICD-9 update. Explains that the discussion focuses on the new post-traumatic grouping and its place in the broader headache classification.