Q: | One of our patients was treated for breast cancer in 2007, and the PCP is reporting ICD-10-CM code C50.912. Is this correct? |
A: |
In all likelihood, no. The coding guidelines for cancer state that “When the primary malignancy has been excised, no further treatment is directed to the site & there is no evidence of an existing malignancy,” the clinician must document ‘history of ______cancer’ and not the cancer diagnosis. [Source: International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition] So if there is no evidence the patient’s cancer has returned, the correct ICD-10-CM code is Z85.3 Personal history of malignant neoplasm of breast. Read more by visiting our blog: Coding Cancers: A Common Charting Error Tagged:
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