traumatic tendon rupture

santosl@ah.orgsantosl@ah.org
in Home Care Coding General
We have a patient who is s/p repair/reconstruction of a traumatic achilles tendon rupture. I know fractures being surgically repaired are still coded to the fracture. What about the achilles injury? Would it still be coded using the injury code (seventh character D) or aftercare? Thanks in advance. Lori

Comments

  • dfalendfalen
    edited May 2017
    I may be wrong but reading in the 2017 Decision Health Coding Manual Page 58 states that the aftercare Z codes should not be used for aftercare of injuries. For aftercare of an injury, assign the acute injury code with appropriate 7th character (for subsequent encounter).
    I am pretty new at this so hopefully someone more experienced will respond also.

    Deborah L. Falen

    Home Health Office Coordinator

    debbie.falen@echospital.org



    Ellwood City Hospital HHA

    724 Pershing Street

    Ellwood City, PA 16117

    phone 724-758-2730

    fax 724-752-4216
  • lisa.sharpe@sanfordhealth.orglisa.sharpe@sanfordhealth.org
    You're correct - we use the injury code with "D" for subsequent encounter in this case.

    Lisa Sharpe, HCS-D
    Coding Specialist
    Sanford Bemidji HomeCare and Hospice
    3201 Pine Ridge Ave NW RT# 10800
    Bemidji MN 56601
    Phone 218-333-5764
  • santosl@ah.orgsantosl@ah.org
    That's what I ended up doing. Thanks for the clarification. Lori
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