Ischemic Colitis and Hematochezia

lwickey@yorkhospital.comlwickey@yorkhospital.com
in Clinical & Coding

We are being advised to add hematochezia (documented) as a secondary dx when the MD documentation states "ischemic colitis with a lower GI bleed." It was my understanding this was a common S&S of ischemic colitis and would not be additionally coded. Is there any guidance on when or if hematochezia  should be coded in this scenario?


Comments

  • Lori.Drodge@mainehealth.orgLori.Drodge@mainehealth.org
    Hemorrhagic is a non-essential modifier of colitis which would not be coded separately as it applies to the sub-term of ischemic as well.  See CC2Q08p15-16.  
Sign In or Register to comment.