In the ICD- 9 and ICD-10 books we have
guidelines to support our coding choices. If there is ever a time to be sure
the guideline is followed, this would be it. If a patient has a late effect
from a previous CVA, it must be coded as such. A good example is 438.21 Hemiplegia affecting dominant side
versus 342.11 Spastic hemiplegia
affecting dominant side.
Code
438.21 is a direct coordination with the patient's previous CVA. Choosing
342.11 would be appropriate in a patient who has this condition related to an
acute or chronic illness.
We
thank physicians for choosing codes that are most descriptive of the diagnosis
and its relationship to comorbidities
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