Determining Diagnosis Code Categories

Determining Diagnosis Code Categories

HCR 220

Determining Diagnosis Code Categories

• A 68-year-old male presents to the office complaining of pronounced weakness on the right side of his body and slurred speech for the past 24 hours. Based on the examination, the physician orders an MRI to investigate a possible transient ischemic attack.

The physician ordered an MRI to investigate the possibility of a transient ischemic attack. This means that the physician is unsure of the diagnosis. Codes 780-799, used for symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions, should be used. According to the text, these codes are used for conditions in which a definitive diagnosis cannot be made. If TIA is the diagnosis, I believe it would receive a code between 390-459...