Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

I am looking for some help on what diagnosis code should be used. My provider is asking me to help him find something.

The scenario is a child who comes in because the school is requiring the parents to have a medical evaluation because they suspect the child has Autism.

The child does not have Autism, in fact the child has nothing wrong with him at all.

So the diagnosis of Autism is obviously out. He has no hypertension and Behavior Concerns is a V-code that is not payable. We can't use a well child check code because the child is not due to a well child check up.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Sandi

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

What about V65.5?

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

Try looking at V71... and the screening V diags.
Jeez, doesn't the school system, city/state offer this service without the need to bill insurance?

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

You would think they would offer the service. My thought is that there wasn't any hard evidence that this child really had a problem and the teacher could not warrant asking for an evaluation, so instead she pressured the parents into bringing him to us. Again, V codes are only paid as secondary diagnoses.

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

Unfortunately any V-code has to be secondary in order for the visit to get paid, so I still need a primary dx code. The provider's thought was to diagnose Autism and then classify it as resolved, but that makes me a little leary as the child does not nor has he ever had Autism.

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

I guess I have billed out services with a V-code as primary. You can't diagnose as Autism if he is not autistic so I agree with you on that one.

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

[Unfortunately any V-code has to be secondary in order for the visit to get paid, so I still need a primary dx code. The provider's thought was to diagnose Autism and then classify it as resolved, but that makes me a little leary as the child does not nor has he ever had Autism.]

The statement that a V code needs ot be secondary is not true. Glance at your guidelines in ICD-9. Allot of V codes can be primary. But using a scrrening code i feel would not be apropriate. I would refer back to the physicain for a sign or symptom.

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

I like V65.5

re: Dx code for child without abnormal findings - Need help quick!!

or V70.3