Treatment FAQ

when a primary malignancy has been excised, but treatment is ongoing for that site, code

by Roberto Reynolds Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

What is the CPT code for excised primary malignancy?

When a primary malignancy has been excised or eradicated from its site, there is no further treatment (of the malignancy) directed to that site, and there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy, a code from category Z85, Personal history of malignant neoplasm, should be used to indicate the former site of the malignancy.

When is a primary malignancy previously excised or eradicated?

When a primary malignancy has been previously excised or eradicated from its site, there is no further treatment (of the malignancy) directed to that site, and there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy, a code from Category Z85, Personal history of

When to use the primary malignancy code for cancer treatment?

When a primary malignancy has been excised but further treatment, such as additional surgery for the malignancy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy is directed to that site, the primary malignancy code should be used until treatment is complete.

What is the CPT code for former site of malignancy?

When a primary malignancy has been previously excised or eradicated from its site and there is no further treatment directed to that site and there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy, a code from category Z85, Personal history of malignant neoplasm, should be used to indicate the former site of the malignancy.

When should I use code Z85?

When a primary malignancy has been previously excised or eradicated from its site and there is no further treatment directed to that site and there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy at that site, a code from category Z85, Personal history of malignant neoplasm, should be used to indicate the former site ...

What is diagnosis code Z51 11?

ICD-10 code Z51. 11 for Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Factors influencing health status and contact with health services .

How would you code a patient's cancer that has already been excised and is no longer being treated?

When cancer has been excised or eradicated from its site and there is no further treatment directed to the site and there is no evidence of malignancy, a code from category Z85, personal history of malignant neoplasm, should be assigned.

How are primary and secondary cancers coded?

1 Malignant (primary) neoplasm, unspecified and C79. 9 Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified site. A diagnosis of metastatic cancer not otherwise specified (NOS) is used most often when diagnostic tests were not completed.

Can Z51 11 be a primary diagnosis?

11 or Z51. 12 is the only diagnosis on the line, then the procedure or service will be denied because this diagnosis should be assigned as a secondary diagnosis. When the Primary, First-Listed, Principal or Only diagnosis code is a Sequela diagnosis code, then the claim line will be denied.

What is diagnosis code C90 00?

ICD-10 code: C90. 00 Multiple myeloma Without mention of complete remission.

What is primary malignant neoplasm?

A malignant tumor at the original site of growth. [ from NCI]

When do you code active cancer?

Coding active cancer when the correct code is “history of” the specific cancer. This is particularly common when the patient is considered cancer-free and is off all forms of treatment, but is closely followed for recurrence of cancer by an oncologist.

What is considered active treatment?

Examples of active treatment are: surgical treatment, emergency department encounter, and evaluation and continuing treatment by the same or a different physician.

How do you code suspected malignancy?

Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of other sites. Z12. 89 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.

When a patient is admitted because of a primary neoplasm with metastasis and treatment is directed toward the secondary neoplasm only?

When a patient is admitted because of a primary neoplasm with metastasis and treatment is directed toward the secondary site only, the secondary neoplasm is designated as the principal diagnosis even though the primary malignancy is still present.

What is c79 51 ICD-10?

51 Secondary malignant neoplasm of bone.

When should a primary malignancy code be used?

When a primary malignancy has been excised but further treatment, such as an additional surgery for the malignancy, radiation therapy or chemotherapy is directed to that site, the primary malignancy code should be used until treatment is completed.

When a pregnant woman has a malignant neoplasm, should a code from subcatego

When a pregnant woman has a malignant neoplasm, a code from subcategory O9A.1 -, malignant neoplasm complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium, should be sequenced first, followed by the appropriate code from Chapter 2 to indicate the type of neoplasm. Encounter for complication associated with a neoplasm.

What is the Z85 code for a primary malignancy?

When a primary malignancy has been previously excised or eradicated from its site and there is no further treatment directed to that site and there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy at that site, a code from category Z85, Personal history of malignant neoplasm, should be used to indicate the former site of the malignancy. Any mention of extension, invasion, or metastasis to another site is coded as a secondary malignant neoplasm to that site. The secondary site may be the principal or first-listed with the Z85 code used as a secondary code.

What is the code for a primary malignant neoplasm?

A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified to the subcategory/code .8 ('overlapping lesion '), unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.

What is Chapter 2 of the ICD-10-CM?

Chapter 2 of the ICD-10-CM contains the codes for most benign and all malignant neoplasms. Certain benign neoplasms , such as prostatic adenomas, may be found in the specific body system chapters. To properly code a neoplasm, it is necessary to determine from the record if the neoplasm is benign, in-situ, malignant, or of uncertain histologic behavior. If malignant, any secondary ( metastatic) sites should also be determined.

What is C80.0 code?

Code C80.0, Disseminated malignant neoplasm, unspecified, is for use only in those cases where the patient has advanced metastatic disease and no known primary or secondary sites are specified. It should not be used in place of assigning codes for the primary site and all known secondary sites.

What is the code for leukemia?

There are also codes Z85.6, Personal history of leukemia, and Z85.79, Personal history of other malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissues. If the documentation is unclear as to whether the leukemia has achieved remission, the provider should be queried.

What is the code for primary malignancy?

When a primary malignancy has been previously excised or eradicated from its site and there is no further treatment directed to that site and there is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy, a code from category Z85, Personal history of malignant neoplasm, should be used to indicate the former site of the malignancy .

When to use a malignant neoplasm code?

Use a malignant neoplasm code if the patient has evidence of the disease, primary or secondary, or if the patient is still receiving treatment for the disease. If neither of those is true, then report personal history of malignant neoplasm.

What is an uncertain diagnosis?

Uncertain diagnosis. Do not code diagnoses documented as “probable”, “suspected,” “questionable,” “rule out,” or “working diagnosis” or other similar terms indicating uncertainty. Rather, code the condition (s) to the highest degree of certainty for that encounter/visit, such as symptoms, signs, abnormal test results, or other reason for the visit. ...

What is primary malignancy?

The malignancy diagnosis refers to the primary site. The primary malignancy has been previously excised or eradicated. There is no further treatment directed to that site of the primary malignancy. There is no evidence of any existing primary malignancy at that site. If all of these criteria are met,

What is provider documentation?

As always, provider documentation is key to reporting the correct code or codes. Documentation must include this information and may be found in the patient’s history and physical (H&P). What site is primary and if it has been excised or eradicated, and if it is still under treatment.

Is OCG applicable to all health care settings?

The OCG are applicable to all health care settings unless otherwise indicated. Three words that might easily be overlooked were added to each of the two guidelines referenced above; they are “at that site.”. The paragraph “ Subcategories Z85.0-Z85.7 should only be assigned for the former site of a primary malignancy, ...

What is the primary malignancy code?

The primary malignancy is coded as an additional code. When a pregnant woman has a malignant neoplasm, a codefrom subcategory O9A.1-, Malignant neoplasm complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium, should be sequenced first, followed by the appropriate code from Chapter 2 to indicate the type of neoplasm.

What is the code for pathological fracture due to a neoplasm?

When an encounter is for a pathological fracture due to a neoplasm, and the focus of treatment is the fracture, a code from subcategory M84.5, Pathological fracture in neoplastic disease, should be sequenced first, followed by the code for the neoplasm.

Can a patient have more than one malignant tumor?

Malignancy in two or more noncontiguous sites. A patient may have more than one malignant tumor in the same organ. These tumors may represent different primaries or metastatic disease, depending on the site. Should the documentation be unclear, the provider should be queried as to the status of each tumor so that the correct codes can be assigned.

What is the ICD-10 code for dermatology?

The ICD-10 for this visit (if nothing new is found) is a "personal history of XXXXX", which is the code that explains the necessity for the visit.

Can you code conditions that were previously treated and no longer exist?

Do not code conditions that were previously treated and no longer exist. However, history codes (categories Z80-Z87) may be used as secondary codes if the historical condition or family history has an impact on current care or influences treatment. ". Use the follow-up codes and personal history codes instead...

Can you code a condition that is no longer present?

But for all intents and purposes, after removal (excision, Mohs, etc.), and absent any indications via path, dermatologists handle this as previously treated condition, not an active condition. You don't code a condition that is no longer present. Therefore, personal history codes are used.

When should a primary malignancy code be used?

When a primary malignancy has been excised but further treatment, such as an additional surgery for the malignancy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy is directed to that site, the primary malignancy code should be used until treatment is completed.

What is a Munchausen's syndrome by proxy?

Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is a disorder in which a caregiver (perpetrator) falsely reports or causes an illness or injury in another person (victim) under his or her care , such as a child , an elderly adult, or a person who has a disability.

What is the code for a hurricane?

In addition to code X37.0-, Hurricane, other possible applicable external cause of morbidity codes include: W54.0-, Bitten by dog; X30-, Exposure to excessive natural heat; X31-, Exposure to excessive natural cold; or X38-, Flood. d.

What is code X36.0?

Code X36.0.-, Collapse of dam or manmade structure, should not be assigned when the cause of the collapse is due to the hurricane. Use of code X36.0- is limited to collapses of manmade structures due to earth surface movements, not due to storm surges directly from a hurricane. c.

When are hospital discharge guidelines going to be released?

Be sure to learn more about these and other changes, and be ready for Oct. 1. All hospital inpatient and outpatient (including physician office) coding professionals are to apply the new guidelines for discharges occurring from Oct. 1, 2018 through Sept. 30, 2019.

When to use X37.0?

Code X37.0- also should be assigned when an injury is incurred as a result of flooding caused by a levee breaking related to the hurricane. Code X38.-, Flood (with the appropriate seventh character), should be assigned when an injury is from flooding resulting directly from the storm.

Is Z55 a secondary diagnosis?

The BMI, coma scale, NIHSS codes and categories Z55-Z65 should only be reported as secondary diagnoses. In the “General Guidelines” section, there is a new General Guideline, No. 19: Coding for Healthcare Encounters in Hurricane Aftermath. To wit:

Section 1.C.2 Provides Guidance

  • According to the ICD-10 guidelines, (Section I.C.2.m): When a primary malignancy has been excised but further treatment, such as additional surgery for the malignancy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy is directed to that site, the primary malignancy code should be used until treatment is complete. When a primary malignancy has been excised or era...
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Defining Terms with Care

  • For more context, consider the meanings of “current” and “history of” (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting; Mayo Clinic; Medline Plus, National Cancer Institute): Current: Cancer is coded as current if the record clearly states active treatment is for the purpose of curing or palliating cancer, or states cancer is present but unresponsive to treatment; the curr…
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Active Treatment vs. Preventative Care

  • What if a patient with breast cancer is status post-surgery/chemotherapy/radiation and is currently on tamoxifen for five years? If the patient is on tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, such as Arimidex®, is that active treatment or preventive care (to inhibit returning cancer). Ultimately, what determines active treatment versus preventive care is how the drug is used. For example: 1…
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The Provider Perspective

  • Do providers agree with the above guidelines, or are the clinical and coding worlds at odds? According to a presentation by James M. Taylor, MD, CPC, providers look at cancer at a cellular level; whereas, coding guidelines look more at the organ level. In his opinion, common concerns among providers are: 1. Some neoplasms may not be active but remain at a cellular level, and ca…
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“History Of” Doesn’T Mean A Lesser Service

  • I’ve heard providers worry about the level of medical decision-making assigned to a history of diagnosis, versus a current status diagnosis. The fear is, history of will be seen as a less important diagnosis, which may affect relative value units. Providers argue that history of cancer follow-up visits require meaningful review, examinations, and discussions with the patients, plu…
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