Journalists working on stories related to high-risk pregnancies or the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine can contact Greg Phillips, Director of Communications, at press@smfm.org for referrals to MFM experts and to request additional information. The press office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) book divides the codes for pelvic ultrasound services into two categories: Obstetrical (76801-76828) and Nonobstetrical (76830-76857). However, how does one know which category to use? An appropriate obstetrical ultrasound code should be selected... Continue Reading
The initial provider visit confirming pregnancy is not always part of the global maternity care service. For example, if a patient only had a positive home pregnancy test, you could have a short E/M visit to confirm the pregnancy as long as the OB record is not initiated at that visit. The... Continue Reading
One challenge for ICD-10-CM code selection for MFM is the presentation of symptoms or conditions for which a precise diagnosis code doesn’t exist. ICD-10-CM offers several categories and subcategories from which to choose. They are: O09.89- Supervision of other high risk... Continue Reading
Telemedicine is the delivery of medical care or services from a distant site. Telemedicine provides two-way, communication between a patient and healthcare provider at a distant site. The communication is supported by audio and video equipment that allows a physician at the main hospital/office to... Continue Reading
Gestational Diabetes ICD-10 Codes: New codes have been added to indicate when gestational diabetes (diabetes that starts during pregnancy) is controlled by oral hypoglycemic drugs, during pregnancy, childbirth or in the puerperium: O24.415 Gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, controlled... Continue Reading
Preconception counseling is an office consultation to discuss the potential risks a woman may face when pursuing pregnancy. Discussion typically involves identifying risk factors that could impact the progress of a healthy pregnancy and healthy fetus. Addressing issues ahead of time, such as... Continue Reading
The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that has been associated with congenital defects, primarily of the central nervous system. According to the CDC, clinicians should screen women who have traveled to known areas of Zika transmission. Pregnant women who report clinical illness consistent... Continue Reading
For correct code assignment, it is important to determine whether the hypertension is a pre-existing or a gestational condition. Pre-existing hypertension is classified to category O10, Pre-existing hypertension complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, as... Continue Reading
Currently, there is no ICD-10 code for cervical shortening in the first trimester. However, the cervix could be short in the first trimester due to prior cervical procedures, congenital malformations, previously diagnosed cervical insufficiency, etc. In those situations, the suggested codes to... Continue Reading
One of the biggest changes in ICD-10 conventions, compared to ICD-9, is the EXCLUDES note. In ICD-9, the alert was simply “EXCLUDES…”. In ICD-10, the alert has been expanded to accommodate two concepts: EXCLUDES 1 and EXCLUDES 2. Excludes 1 means NOT CODED HERE. The code(s)... Continue Reading
When coding from ICD-10, a primary diagnosis code must be assigned from Chapter 15, Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium (O00-O9A) to describe their condition. For diabetes, the diagnosis category that will be selected is O24, Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium. A... Continue Reading
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have reported a projected decrease in the workforce over the next two decades.1 This anticipated change in supply and demand is correlated with the demographic changes among physicians and patients, the aging population, and the relatively... Continue Reading
