Health Information Management

New ICD-9 guidelines for anemia due to antineoplastic chemotherapy

HIM Connection, December 22, 2009

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Q: Can you explain the new ICD-9 guidelines for coding anemia due to antineoplastic chemotherapy and provide an example?
 
A: Anemia due to antineoplastic chemotherapy and antineoplastic chemotherapy-induced anemia are synonymous. Report them both with 285.3. Report 285.22 for anemia secondary to a malignancy, a form of chronic anemia. When both conditions occur in the same patient—and a physician properly documents both—report codes 285.3 and 285.22. For example, a patient is maintained on cisplatinum for non–small cell carcinoma of the lung. The physician documents that before the chemotherapy begins, the patient has anemia secondary to the lung cancer (285.3). Upon initiation of the chemotherapy and cisplatinum, the patient’s anemia progresses. The physician documents the condition as anemia due to the chemotherapy (285.22). In this scenario, report 285.22 and 285.3.
 
Editor’s note: Chris William E. Haik, MD, director of DRG Review, Inc., in Fort Walton Beach, FL, answered this question.in the December issue of Briefings on Coding Compliance.



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