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This is a frequently encountered “diagnosis” or symptom which can be an early warning of a bowel neoplasm, and it is used in conjunction with investigative procedures of the lower intestine such as colonoscopy or barium enema. Unfortunately however, there is no specific ICD-9 code for this symptom, and the code which many publications or diagnosis code search programs suggest for usage is 787.99, which is listed in the official ICD-9 codeset with the description “Symptoms involving digestive system; other”. This can make the usage of text search methodologies challenging in cases where no more than the official descriptions are provided.
An alternative method to identify the appropriate code for this is using a system such as icdPIX, which allows the user to select the bowel or abdomen, followed by the category of symptoms, which then narrows down the list of possible options to allow a more rational decision.
Fred Taute, MD, MBA
President
MedCodePIX, LLC
678 439 5204
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