Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2008 Issue 9
ICD-9 2009 Update: Implement 346.xx Changes Using 8 Can't-Live-Without Secrets
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Article Overview
This article explains a proposed ICD-9-CM update affecting migraine coding and outlines the major categories of changes in the 346.xx series. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and clinical documentation readers who need to understand how the upcoming migraine classification revisions are organized and what types of encounter details the new structure emphasizes.
Why This Topic Matters
The update affects how migraine encounters are classified and documented, so it is relevant to anyone preparing for ICD-9 coding changes and reviewing migraine-related records for specificity.
Article Sections
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Introduction to the 2009 migraine update
Provides an overview of the proposed ICD-9 migraine revisions and the timing of the changes. It frames the article as guidance for preparing to review the updated migraine classification structure.
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Fifth-digit options for migraine codes
Explains the new fifth-digit structure being introduced for the migraine series. The section focuses on the type of encounter details the expanded code set is intended to capture.
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Revisions affecting the classical migraine category
Summarizes changes proposed for one migraine subgroup and the broader clinical situations associated with it. It also notes related terminology and symptom patterns discussed by the article.
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Expanded migraine variant classification
Covers the migraine variant group and the additional clinical presentations being included in the revised structure. The discussion places these updates within the broader migraine classification framework.
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Hemiplegic migraine
Describes the new preliminary category for this migraine type and the general clinical features associated with it. The section also notes the way the classification is being broadened.
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Menstrual migraine
Introduces the new subcategory for menstrual-related migraine presentations. It briefly places this addition within the broader 2009 update.
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Persistent migraine aura
Covers the new persistent migraine aura categories and the distinctions being made within that area. The section also discusses terminology used in documentation and references general guidance on unspecified coding.
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Persistent migraine aura with cerebral infarction
Addresses the companion persistent aura category that includes cerebrovascular involvement. It emphasizes the documentation focus associated with this part of the revised migraine series.
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Chronic migraine
Reviews the new chronic migraine category and how it fits within the revised migraine framework. The section discusses the broader concept of transformed migraine and the type of longitudinal pattern the article references.
What You Will Learn
- How the proposed ICD-9 migraine update reshapes the 346.xx series
- What broad documentation elements the revised migraine categories are intended to capture
- How the article organizes the major migraine subcategories affected by the update
- What kinds of clinical presentations are grouped into the expanded migraine classification
- Which parts of the update relate to chronic, persistent, menstrual, hemiplegic, and variant migraine categories
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding educators
- Billing staff
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Practice managers
Codes Discussed
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