3 Important ICD 10 Codes for OB GYN Medical Billing

Pre- and post-COVID19 has brought in many changes in ICD 10 codes of all healthcare specialties where few changes have also been made specific to OB/GYNs. There are also several important general changes that gynecologists need to be aware of because keeping coding updates handy helps physicians to document patient history, records correctly,       and make sure OB-GYN Medical Billing is properly handled and reimbursements are received on time for the range of services provided.

Here are some important ICD-10-CM code changes for gynecologists to note:

#1: T81.4: Post-operative Infections

Based on different types of surgical procedures, eighteen new codes have been assigned for infections or sepsis, and newly, the coding system has now categorized the visits into three types-initial, follow-up, or sequela. For example, the code T81.43XD relates to an infection following a procedure, at an organ and space surgical site, and in a subsequent encounter.

#2: Z20.821: Exposure to Zika Virus

Zika virus test is primarily for pregnant women or those who are looking to become pregnant should be screened if they travel to tropical locations such as Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands, since the virus is seen more common in these places. This ICD-10 code should be used if exposure to the victim is suspected but awaiting results or if were negative. Also, if the exposure was confirmed but test results came negative, should be considered.

#3: Z04.8, T74, T76, Z62, Z91: Sexual or Labour Exploitation

These new codes now allow a physician to mention that an exam was performed for confirmed suspected sexual or labor exploitation and pertained to which visit it is. Physicians can use Z62 and Z91 for allowing documentation of a history of abuse or trafficking in childhood or adulthood.

These codes are introduced and followed with the support received from AMA and its associated hospitals against violence initiative against human trafficking. Along with considering trafficking as a public health problem, it also helps identify women who were trafficking victims in the past and most likely can be vulnerable to future exploitations if any.

Conclusion

We just looked at 3 important ICD-10 codes for OB/GYN specific, but there are several other ICD-10 codes for different categories of OB/GYN such as Z13:3 for screening for depression or other mental health conditions; R82.99 for abnormal urine findings, and more. These codes are particularly important for gynecologists because many women trust and want to share many things related to their physical and mental health with their OB/GYNs; therefore, staying updated to these codes can help your practice move faster with a huge flow of patients.

If you are still diligent about medical coding, get in touch with 24/7 Medical Billing Services, the medical coding expert, for a one-to-one discussion and get your OB-GYN Medical Billing process in a streamlined manner. For an immediate appointment, call them at +1-888-502-0537.

Read More: What to Know About ICD-10 Coding Changes in 2021?