Save the date! Important ObGyn revisions to the International Diagnostic Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) take effect October 1. Take note of these additions and modifications to ensure that you’re maximizing your reimbursement on claims.
Vaginal, vulvar conditions: Simpler reporting
This year’s additions include codes for vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) and expansion of the vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) category to match.
| 624.01 | Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia I [VIN I] |
| Mild dysplasia of vulva | |
| 624.02 | Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia II [VIN II] |
| Moderate dysplasia of vulva | |
| 624.09 | Other dystrophy of vulva |
| Kraurosis of vulva | |
| Leukoplakia of vulva | |
| 233.30 | Unspecified female genital organ |
| 233.31 | Vagina |
| Severe dysplasia of vagina | |
| Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia III [VAIN III] | |
| 233.32 | Vulva |
| Severe dysplasia of vulva | |
| Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia III [VIN III] | |
| 233.39 | Other female genital organ |
An “excludes” note has also been added to 622.1 [dysplasia of cervix (uteri)] to clarify that a diagnosis of carcinoma in situ I or II may not be reported unless this diagnosis is assigned based on a biopsy finding—not on an abnormal finding on a Pap smear.
New code for trauma during delivery
Anal sphincter tears can occur during delivery without an accompanying third-degree perineal laceration, so a new code [664.6X, anal sphincter tear complicating delivery, not associated with third-degree perineal laceration] has been added to capture this information. Keep in mind these important points:
- Report the new code when an anal tear is noted at or after delivery. The only acceptable fifth digits for this code are 0 [unspecified as to episode of care or not applicable], 1 [delivered, with or without mention of antepartum condition], or 4 [postpartum condition or complication].
- Report the established code, 664.2X [third-degree perineal laceration] if an anal tear is noted in addition to a third-degree perineal tear. The fifth digit will be 0, 1, or 4, as it is with the code for an anal sphincter tear.
- Report the established code 654.8X [congenital or acquired abnormality of vulva] if the patient had an anal tear from a prior pregnancy, before the current delivery.
- Last, report the new code 569.43 [anal sphincter tear (healed) (old)] if you observe that the patient has an old anal tear but isn’t pregnant. Report an additional code for any associated fecal incontinence (787.6).
Report dysplasia follow-up as “medical necessity”
Once a patient has been treated for cervical dysplasia, long-term follow-up care is required to test for recurrence. The only code available to report that history last year was V13.29, a general code that reported all types of genital systems and obstetric disorders. This year, you can specify and report V13.22 [personal history of cervical dysplasia].
The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) as the cause of cervical cancer is well known, and routine screening tests for this infection are generally as accurate as a routine Pap smear. Because of this, a new code, V73.81 [human papillomavirus (HPV)], has been added to document encounters for HPV screening. The new code can be reported in conjunction with the routine gyn exam code, V72.31, or V76.2 [special screening for malignant neoplasm of cervix] to signal that additional screening is planned.
Better documentation of malignant ascites
789.51 Malignant ascites
789.59 Other ascites
Malignant ascites is seen most often in ovarian, endometrial, breast, colon, gastric, and pancreatic cancer. Management of this condition may include systemic chemotherapy, instillation of radioisotopes or chemotherapy drugs into peritoneal fluid, and peritoneal–venous shunting procedures.
Before October 1, under ICD-9 rules, malignant ascites could be reported only using the code 197.6 [secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum].The problem is that this condition can also be caused by a primary ovarian malignancy, for which there has been no reporting mechanism. With expansion of the code 789.5 [ascites], you can specify the type of malignant ascites.