Are secondary diagnosis codes needed when reporting fractures, accidents and complications?
You can streamline the claims process by using specific diagnosis codes associated with late effects, fracture aftercare and accidents, which I’ll now explain. Late effects codes are used for a long-term effect or residual problem occurring after the acute phase of an injury or illness. These codes range from 905 through 909. Report the late effect along with the code that created the late effect. Code the residual problem as the primary diagnosis and the cause as the secondary diagnosis. For example, the patient presents with arthropathy as a result of an earlier distal radius traumatic fracture. The original diagnosis, 813.15 (fracture of radius and ulna, open, head of radius), is not reported. Instead, report the following diagnosis codes: 716.13 (traumatic arthropathy, forearm) and 905.2 (late effect of fracture of upper extremities). To report a newly diagnosed pathologic fracture or during active treatment, use diagnosis codes 733.1X. V codes, ranging from V01 to V82, are used to
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