bronch
I feel like this is a basic question but I want to make sure I am pointing coding in the right direction.
Patient presents with end stage COPD with resp failure. Later develops hemoptysis. We do a bronch. Documentation states:
Bronchoscope was passed through an 8.0 endotracheal tube. The tube was confirmed
to be 3 cm above the carina. There was initially some scant hemoptysis in the central airways.
This was suctioned to clear. It appeared that there was blood pooling at a slow rate in the
left lower lobe below the superior segment. This again was suctioned to clear and the patient
was treated with serial iced saline. No specimens were obtained during this procedure.
Procedure was well tolerated without complications.
What is the root operation for the bronch in this scenario?
Thanks!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Patient presents with end stage COPD with resp failure. Later develops hemoptysis. We do a bronch. Documentation states:
Bronchoscope was passed through an 8.0 endotracheal tube. The tube was confirmed
to be 3 cm above the carina. There was initially some scant hemoptysis in the central airways.
This was suctioned to clear. It appeared that there was blood pooling at a slow rate in the
left lower lobe below the superior segment. This again was suctioned to clear and the patient
was treated with serial iced saline. No specimens were obtained during this procedure.
Procedure was well tolerated without complications.
What is the root operation for the bronch in this scenario?
Thanks!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Comments
Kim Williams, RN
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Halifax Regional
Revenue Management Department
kwilliams@halifaxrmc.org
(252) 535-8154
(252) 535-8937 fax
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Kim Williams, RN
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Halifax Regional
Revenue Management Department
kwilliams@halifaxrmc.org
(252) 535-8154
(252) 535-8937 fax
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Kim Williams, RN
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Halifax Regional
Revenue Management Department
kwilliams@halifaxrmc.org
(252) 535-8154
(252) 535-8937 fax
I have the reference for the definitions. I was looking for a reference specific to a similar bronch procedure but I haven't some across one (Yet).
Thanks so much for your help .
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Kim Williams, RN
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Halifax Regional
Revenue Management Department
kwilliams@halifaxrmc.org
(252) 535-8154
(252) 535-8937 fax
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
LeeAnn Conaway, RN III, CCRN, CCDS
CDS Coordinator
UPMC Altoona
Quality Management
814-889-3313 office
814-502-6772 cell
* The root operation specifies the objective of the procedure.
o Was control of bleeding the objective?
o Would irrigation be the root operation?
* Should the aspiration of mucous be coded separately?
o Were multiple root operations performed with different objectives?
o Or was aspiration of the mucous just part of the procedure?
PCS guidelines state that FOB performed for irrigation of bronchus , only the irrigation is performed.
As I said, I'm not sure if the mucous plug aspiration should be coded in addition or not.
Sharon Salinas, CCS
Health Information Management
Barlow Respiratory Hospital
2000 Stadium Way, Los Angeles CA 90026
Tel: 213-250-4200 ext 3336
FAX: 213-202-6490
ssalinas@barlow2000.org
Unfortunately, we don't have any more documentation regarding the procedure than I provided. However, the progress notes basically say that the patient had sudden frank hemoptysis. He has had this 2 years prior as well, had a bronch at that time and it was coming from the LLL. They did nothing to control the bleeding that I can see aside from using iced saline. After the bronch, they said if it continued they would consider embolization but they did not end up doing this as bleeding stopped on its own. To me, the aspiration of mucous seems incidental. Thinking about my resp ICU experience, basically all bronchs included suctioning but I am not sure.
Frustrating how confusing such a simple procedure can be....
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Ann
Sent from my iPhone
That code uses Extirpation as the root which would be incorrect as the objective of the procedure was not to take or cut out solid matter.
I am sure I am not alone when I say I despise these new root words!
LeeAnn
Non-excisional debridement will not drive to surgical DRG, but true surgical debridement is a valid O.R. procedure.
I believe the nuances and multitude of choices in PCS make the coding of PCS very detailed.
Sorry can’t be of more help, but please check each category of each character assigned for some of these mentioned procedures.
PE
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
I also ran it through with bronchial alveolar lavage and while the root is drainage-- NEITHER effected DRG... I thought that was the main concern?
I just like to follow others discoveries- don't begin to claim expertise!
Thanks
Ann
Sent from my iPhone
Removal of mucus is not coded to removal of foreign body as the mucus is not foreign to this anatomical location. In my practice, Bronchoscopy ‘almost never’ impacts the DRG unless actual lung tissue is biopsied – washings and so forth do not impact DRG.
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Katy… I wonder if it makes a difference that they were suctioning blood, not just mucus since the hemoptysis seems like what led to doing the bronch in the first place?
LeeAnn
(May be helpful, depending upon circumstances of each case)
Inspection procedures
B3.11a
Inspection of a body part(s) performed in order to achieve the objective of a procedure is not coded separately.
Example: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy performed for irrigation of bronchus, only the irrigation procedure is coded.
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
[cid:image001.jpg@01D14DFD.69496F60]
From: Evans, Paul
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 11:57 AM
To: 'cdi_talk@hcprotalk.com'
Subject: RE: [cdi_talk] bronch
No worries…PCS can be difficult. I wish I had time to contribute more today, but I have my quota to meet. I only wish to say we should all take a 2nd look at the way some of these are being coded.
Removal of mucus is not coded to removal of foreign body as the mucus is not foreign to this anatomical location. In my practice, Bronchoscopy ‘almost never’ impacts the DRG unless actual lung tissue is biopsied – washings and so forth do not impact DRG.
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
Sharon Salinas, CCS
Health Information Management
Barlow Respiratory Hospital
2000 Stadium Way, Los Angeles CA 90026
Tel: 213-250-4200 ext 3336
FAX: 213-202-6490
ssalinas@barlow2000.org
(My brain is spinning.)
Sharon Salinas, CCS
Health Information Management
Barlow Respiratory Hospital
2000 Stadium Way, Los Angeles CA 90026
Tel: 213-250-4200 ext 3336
FAX: 213-202-6490
ssalinas@barlow2000.org
Robert S. Gold, MD
CEO, DCBA, Inc
4611 Brierwood Place
Atlanta, GA 30360
(770) 216-9691 (Office)
(404) 580-0204 (Cell)
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Drainage of LUNG can result in a procedure that impacts DRG assignment.
[cid:image001.png@01D14E1F.DE7690C0]
Drainage of BRONCHUS (BAL) did not impact DRG when I set up a dummy case.
Drainage, LL Bronchus, Endoscopic, No Device, Diagnostic
(BAL) – Dummy case below generates a Medical DRG, not Surgical
[cid:image002.png@01D14E1C.61645070]
[cid:image003.png@01D14E1C.61645070]
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
However, when I code the removal of a mucous plug from the right upper lobe, I’m getting code 0BCC8ZZ with the root operation of extirpation (see pathway below).
[cid:image001.png@01D14EEC.39531690]
In contrast, when I code the same procedure but to a different site (bronchus), it remains in the medical DRG.
I coded the same procedure in 9 and the codes look like this-there is no option to further specify location, so I’m wondering if this is a DRG shift based on location of the removal of the plug or a flaw of the system?
[cid:image002.png@01D14EEE.A570EF80]
I’m concerned as well as this is a change and curious to see how others are handling similar claims.
Katy-what did you decide on in your case?
Kerry Seekircher, RN, BS, CCDS, CDIP
Clinical Documentation Program Manager
Northern Westchester Hospital
400 East Main Street
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
Email: kseekircher@nwhc.net
Phone: 914-666-1243
Fax: 914-666-1013
Someone else also stated that insertion of an A-line can now drive to a surgical MS-DRG, and I have experienced this, too. Not sure if this is a problem w/ code site or oversight in DRG pathways? Seems implausible that insertion of A-line in Upper Artery for monitoring should impact DRG – think of all the septic patients this may impact?
Color me confused?
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation & Coding Integrity
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
Thanks and good luck,
Mark
Robert S. Gold, MD
CEO, DCBA, Inc
4611 Brierwood Place
Atlanta, GA 30360
(770) 216-9691 (Office)
(404) 580-0204 (Cell)
100% agree….from the limited time I have had to code some of the questioned procedures, I ‘believe’ that, even when we all agree the correct procedure PCS code is applied, we are now seeing certain procedures that are now impacting DRG assignment, but were not impacting DRG assignment until 1 Oct of this year….(such as insertion of A –lines and certain bronchial procedures, just to name a few identified issues w/ PCS using I-10. I wonder if this is the intent of those that built logic for our current grouper?)
Thanks, PE
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
You define drainage of lung but the code that is coming up is removal (extirpation) of matter from right upper lobe of lung and not drainage?
Thanks,
Mark
Robert S. Gold, MD
CEO, DCBA, Inc
4611 Brierwood Place
Atlanta, GA 30360
(770) 216-9691 (Office)
(404) 580-0204 (Cell)
But it does go to extirpation, as far as I can see when we code a removal of mucous plug.
[cid:image009.png@01D158F8.2A7FB040]
[cid:image010.png@01D158F8.2A7FB040]
Based on those options, I think the natural selection for removal of a mucous plus is 3 (on the second screen), even issue you select bronchus, you end up with Extirpation 0BC88ZZ.
Do I have this right?
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
Robert S. Gold, MD
CEO, DCBA, Inc
4611 Brierwood Place
Atlanta, GA 30360
(770) 216-9691 (Office)
(404) 580-0204 (Cell)
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
Below is the documentation that I have to work with.
Closing thoughts?
Procedure: Bronchoscopy
Indications:
Atelectasis of the right middle lobe, Atelectasis of
the right lower lobe, Lung collapse
Impression: -
A mucous plug was found in the bronchus intermedius,
in the right upper lobe, in the medial segment of the
right middle lobe (B5) and in the right lower lobe.
- No specimens collected.
Findings:
Left Lung Abnormalities:
Right Lung Abnormalities: Mucous, plugging the airway, was found in the
bronchus intermedius, in the right upper lobe, in the medial segment of
the right middle lobe (B5) and in the right lower lobe. The mucous was
copious, tenacious, white, thick and odorless. [Underlying mucosa].
Complications: No immediate complications
Recommendation: - Chest X-ray post-procedure.
- Bronchial hygiene.
CPT(R) Code(s): --- Professional ---
31622, Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including
fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with
cell washing, when performed (separate procedure)
ICD Code(s): --- Professional ---
T17.990A, Other foreign object in respiratory tract,
part unspecified in causing asphyxiation, initial
encounter
J98.11, Atelectasis
J98.19, Other pulmonary collapse
Brief Procedure Note
Pt is s/p bronchoscopy for RML/RLL lung collapse due to mucous inspissation. Pt had very tenacious, white, thick mucous obstructing RUL, Bronchus Intermedius, LUL, L lingula and LLL. I suctioned out all secretions- using total of 155cc NS in process. All airways open and patent. Pt tolerated procedure well. Secretions sent for gm stain, cx, sensitivity and pathology.
Will order CXR to evaluate RLL.
Kerry Seekircher, RN, BS, CCDS, CDIP
Clinical Documentation Program Manager
Northern Westchester Hospital
400 East Main Street
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
Email: kseekircher@nwhc.net
Phone: 914-666-1243
Fax: 914-666-1013
It can sometimes be difficult to decide how to code endobronchial procedures, but I always ask myself if the procedure is confined within the lumen of the bronchus of was the bronchus crossed to lung tissue…hope this helps for any future cases.
PE
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS
Manager, Regional Clinical Documentation
Sutter West Bay
633 Folsom St., 7th Floor, Office 7-044
San Francisco, CA 94107
Cell: 415.412.9421
evanspx@sutterhealth.org
These exchanges are so educational and help to shed clarity on the fact that we need to look beyond the words and utilize our A&P as well.
Thanks everyone!
Mark
This case was a struggle for me and I appreciate all of your valuable feedback.
Kerry
Kerry Seekircher, RN, BS, CCDS, CDIP
Clinical Documentation Program Manager
Northern Westchester Hospital
400 East Main Street
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
Email: kseekircher@nwhc.net
Phone: 914-666-1243
Fax: 914-666-1013