Ask An Expert: cancer
| Q: | My PCP documented and coded breast cancer (ICD-10-CM code C50.-) for a patient who had a mastectomy three years ago and is receiving Tamoxifen. He was told that if the patient was receiving treatment, he could code active cancer. Is this correct from an MRA standpoint? |
| A: |
Yes and no. When a patient has an active cancer, regardless of whether he or she is receiving treatment, the primary cancer ICD-10-CM code is used. The scenario you presented isn’t quite so clear. Breast cancer has a treatment phase … Read Full Post |
| Q: | One of our patients was treated for breast cancer in 2007, and the PCP has checked ICD-9-CM code 174.9 on the superbill. 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 … Read Full Post |
| Q: | My PCP documented and coded breast cancer (ICD-9-CM code 174.9) for a patient who had a mastectomy in 2008 and is receiving Tamoxifen. He was told that if the patient was receiving treatment, he could code active cancer. Is this correct from an MRA standpoint? |
| A: |
Yes and no. When a patient has an active cancer, regardless of whether he or she is receiving treatment, the primary cancer ICD-9-CM code is used. The scenario you presented isn’t quite so clear. Breast cancer has a treatment phase … Read Full Post |