Perinatal Billing Code Additions Coming Soon

Head’s up! There are ICD-9 code additions that will most likely impact OB/GYN’s. They haven’t been solidified yet, but here’s a sneak peak at what could be included in the coming changes. These codes are slated to be four new ICD-9 code changes that will become available in October.

The four new codes will be in the perinatal sector of care and are :

* 768.7 new code for hypoxia and birth asphyxia — , Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
* two new codes describing other respiratory problems after birth:
* 770.87 — Respiratory arrest of newborn
* 770.88 — Hypoxemia of newborn

Another slated change may be the addition of a fifth-digit subclassification under “other transitory neonatal endocrine and metabolic disturbances specific to the fetus and newborn” (now 775.8). As neo-natal medicine becomes more and more advanced, the need to specifically diagnose complex fetal and infant illness and conditions is necessary in order to make sure reimbursements are done correctly.

Make sure that your staff knows about these slated changes and if you’re finding it too difficult to keep up with the changes in billing and coding and run your practice smoothly; it might be time to consider outsourcing your medical billing claims so you can have time to run your practice and not fret the constant medical billing changes.

View all Articles by: Melissa Clark, CCS-P