1. INTRODUCTION TO ICD-9-CM
PART TWO
INTRODUCTION TO ICD-9-CM
Chapter 5
ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines (Section IV): Outpatient Coding and Reporting Guidelines
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Copyright © 2009 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
1. Define the outpatient settings to which Section IV of the Official Guidelines
applies.
2. Define the term first-listed diagnosis as it relates to the outpatient setting.
3. Apply diagnosis code sequencing rules for a variety of outpatient
encounters, such as outpatient procedures/ambulatory surgeries,
observation stays, and encounters for circumstances other than disease
or injury.
4. Compare and contrast coding for uncertain conditions in the outpatient
and inpatient setting.
5. Understand how chronic diseases are coded in the outpatient setting.

3. LEARNING OUTCOMES (cont’d)
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LEARNING OUTCOMES (cont’d)
6. Apply ICD-9-CM coding guidelines to outpatient visits when patients
receive only diagnostic services, therapeutic services, or preoperative
examinations.
7. Apply outpatient coding guidelines for emergency rooms visits.
8. Understand the coding and sequencing guidelines for routine outpatient
prenatal visits.
9. Understand guidelines regarding reporting of additional diagnoses and E
codes in the outpatient setting.
Based on diagnostic statements, correctly assign diagnosis codes for
the outpatient setting.

4. KEY TERMS Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APC) ambulatory surgery
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KEY TERMS
Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APC)
ambulatory surgery
coexisting condition
contraindication
first-listed diagnosis
freestanding facility
history codes
hospital-based outpatient services
hospital-based facility
OPPS APC status indicators
outpatient procedure
Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
Patient’s Reason for Visit
therapeutic services
unscheduled outpatient visit
visit

5. Basic Coding Guidelines for Outpatient Settings
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Basic Coding Guidelines for Outpatient Settings
Outpatient diagnostic coding differs from inpatient coding in two ways:
the definition of principal diagnosis
the coding of inconclusive diagnoses
The definition of principal diagnosis –the diagnosis arrived at after study – in the UHDDS does not apply in any outpatient setting.
Inconclusive conditions – those that are documented as possible, probable, or suspected – are not assigned codes in outpatient settings.

6. DEFINITION OF OUTPATIENT VISITS
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DEFINITION OF OUTPATIENT VISITS
Section IV Official Guidelines apply only to outpatient visits; it is important to understand that an outpatient visit or encounter – the terms are used interchangeably – is one in which the patient is not formally admitted to a facility.

7. DEFINITION OF OUTPATIENT VISITS (cont’d)
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DEFINITION OF OUTPATIENT VISITS (cont’d)
Hospital-based facility outpatient services are the responsibility of the hospital-based facility
They take place in the ER, ambulatory surgery units, observation units, clinics (a distinct part of a facility or a separate facility used only for outpatient physician services), specialized physical therapy units, cardiac cath units
Freestanding facility provides services to an outpatient who is not the responsibility of the hospital.
Such as doctors’ offices, public health clinics, and urgent care centers

8. DEFINITION OF OUTPATIENT VISITS (cont’d)
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DEFINITION OF OUTPATIENT VISITS (cont’d)
IMPORTANT!
Do not use ICD-9-CM Volume 3 for Outpatient Coding
HIPPA mandates the use of CPT codes, rather than ICD-9-CM Volume 3 codes, for procedural reporting in the outpatient setting

9. GUIDELINES FOR CODE SELECTION
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GUIDELINES FOR CODE SELECTION
Outpatient Code Assignment Flow Chart
Step 1: Review the complete outpatient documentation
Step 2: Abstract the confirmed diagnoses to be coded
based on documentation
Step 3: Assign the correct ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes,
following the ICD-9-CM rules and conventions.
Step 4: Sequence the codes based on Section IV of the
ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines.

10. SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS
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SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS
If just one diagnosis is provided, the code for that condition is reported.
If a definite condition is not documented, the code for the patient’s chief complaint is reported.
If multiple diagnoses can be assigned as the reasons for the encounter, all are coded.

11. SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS
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SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS
Specific Guidelines apply for determining first-listed diagnosis codes for the following outpatient services: Outpatient procedures and ambulatory surgery; observation services; diagnostic services; therapeutic services, preoperative evaluations; routine outpatient prenatal care; uncertain diagnosis; emergency department visits.

12. SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
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SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
Outpatient Procedures and Ambulatory Surgery
When a patient presents for an outpatient procedure or ambulatory surgery, the reason for the procedure or surgery is the first-listed diagnosis, unless the preoperative diagnosis and the postoperative diagnosis are different. If this happens, then the postoperative diagnosis is coded.
Observation Stay
Guidelines state that when a patient is admitted for observation due to a medical condition, a code for that medical condition should be the first-listed diagnosis.

13. SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
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SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
Outpatient Procedures and Ambulatory Surgery Flow Chart
Step 1: Review documentation for pre/post-operative
diagnoses.
Step 2: Code the definitive diagnosis.
Step 3: Determine if procedure/surgery was completed
YES = Go to Step 4
NO = Go to Step 3a
Step 3a: Assign additional code(s) for (1) reason for
cancellation, and (2) contraindication/complication
Step 4: Code any coexisting or chronic conditions that affect care during the visit.

14. SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
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SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
Diagnostic Services
For diagnostic services, the first-listed code is the diagnosis, condition, problem, or other reason shown in the medical record to be chiefly responsible for the diagnostic services provided during the encounter. Codes for other diagnoses may be sequenced as additional codes.
Therapeutic Services
Patients may receive only therapeutic services – the many procedures done to treat conditions and injuries – during outpatient visits. For these visits, as for diagnostic services, the ICD-9-CM code reported first represents the diagnosis, condition, problem, or other reason for the encounter that the medical record shows is chiefly responsible for the outpatient services provided.

15. SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
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SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
Preoperative Evaluations
When a patient receives a preoperative evaluation only, a code from category V72.8 (other specified examinations) is sequenced first.
Routine Outpatient Prenatal Visits
The guideline for prenatal visits applies when the prenatal visit occurs and the patient has no complications present. Under these circumstances, the first-listed diagnosis is reported V22.0, supervision of normal first pregnancy, or V22.1, supervision of other normal pregnancy; for complication of pregnancy, the above codes are not reported.

16. SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
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SELECTION OF FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
Uncertain Diagnoses
In the outpatient setting, uncertain diagnoses – those documented as probable, suspected, questionable, rule out, or working diagnoses – are not coded. Only the condition to the highest degree of certainty for that visit is assigned a code. The code may represent a symptom, sign, abnormal test result, or other reason for the visit.
Emergency Department Visits
The guidelines for first-listed diagnosis apply to ED visits. The first-listed diagnosis is the diagnosis, condition, problem, or other reason for the encounter shown in the medical record to be chiefly responsible for the services provided. However, ED visits are unscheduled outpatient visits.

17. Reporting Secondary Diagnoses and E Codes in Outpatient Settings
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Reporting Secondary Diagnoses and E Codes in Outpatient Settings
Not only must the coder identify the first-listed diagnosis for an outpatient visit, but other diagnoses (secondary diagnoses) should also be reported as appropriate.
Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases that are treated on an ongoing basis may be coded and reported as many times as the patient received treatment and care for them.
Coexisting Conditions
All documented conditions that coexist at the time of the encounter and require or affect patient care, treatment, or management should be coded. Conditions that were previously treated and not longer exist or no longer affect treatment or patient management should not be reported.

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Reporting Secondary Diagnoses and E Codes in Outpatient Settings (cont’d)
E Codes
In the facility outpatient setting E Codes are strongly suggest; if the situation involves adverse effect of drugs and medicines in therapeutic use, they are mandatory.

19. Table 5.2 Comparison of Coding, Billing, and Payment Schedule
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Table 5.2 Comparison of Coding, Billing, and Payment Schedule
Hospital Inpatient
Hospital Outpatient
All Physician Services
Diagnosis Codes
ICD-9-CM
E Codes
Required
Optional
Procedure Codes
CPT/HCPCS
Billing Form
8371 or UB-04
837P or CMS-1500
Medicare Payment
Diagnosis Related Group (DRG)
Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC)
Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS)