What diagnosis codes are used for the negotiated laboratory NCDs?
Every ICD-9-CM code falls into one of the three possible lists used in the edit module for the negotiated laboratory NCDs. The three code lists include: ICD-9-CM Codes Covered by Medicare, ICD-9-CM Codes Not Covered by Medicare, and ICD-9-CM Codes That Do Not Support Medical Necessity. • What causes an invalid code? A code is invalid if it has not been coded to the full number of digits required for that code (Coding Clinic 1995 4th Quarter). Any series of numbers that is not linked to a description in the ICD-9-CM book is an invalid code. • How are probable, suspected, questionable, rule- out, or working diagnoses coded? Diagnoses documented as probable, suspected, questionable, rule-out, or working should not be coded as though they exist. Rather, code the condition(s) to the highest degree of certainty for that encounter/visit, such as signs, symptoms, and abnormal test results, exposure to communicable disease or other reasons for the visit. • How can I bill for a preoperative test
