Revenue Cycle

Enjoy the sun's rays but stay safe during Ultraviolet Safety Month

Coding Educator, July 20, 2009

By: Shannon McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CCDS 

Summer time is here! I don’t know about you but I could use a big dose of Vitamin D from the warm summer sun. Don’t we all feel like we look better and healthier with a slight summer glow?
 
I know how much I love being outdoors—whether I am working in my yard, sitting by the pool or relaxing at the beach. But it is important to remember that although the sun’s rays can be therapeutic, too much can be a health risk.
 
The sun’s rays are classified as UVA and UVB rays. While UVA rays take longer than UVB rays to damage the skin, they go deeper into the skin than UVB rays
 
Protecting ourselves from the sun’s rays is imperative during these hot summer months. Luckily, sunscreen SPF’s have gotten ridiculously high. I saw one on the shelf the other day that was SPF 100!
 
Protection is our best defense to prevent skin damage such as wrinkles, premature aging and skin cancer. The signs of skin cancer can be remembered easily by using the “ABCDE rule”.
 
Signs of skin cancer ABCDE rule:
  • Asymmetry: A mole that, when divided in half, doesn't look the same on both sides
  • Border: A mole with edges that are blurry or jagged
  • Color: Changes in the color of a mole, including darkening, spread of color, loss of color, or the appearance of multiple colors such as blue, red, white, pink, purple or gray
  • Diameter: A mole larger than 1/4 inch in diameter
  • Elevation: A mole that is raised above the skin and has an uneven surface
In addition to protecting your skin from the sun, don’t forget about protecting your eyes as well. Investing in a nice pair of sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat is a must. Eyes can also suffer ailments such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which are directly associated with excessive exposure to UV rays. Although, we all may strive for the latest styles in hip sunglasses, make sure that the lenses block at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays. Wrap around sunglasses are best for keeping the rays from coming in on the sides of the lenses. This is especially important when you are on the water or pavement where reflective light is intensified.
 
When coding for skin cancer, report malignant melanoma, with ICD-9 category 172.x. Use category 173.x for other malignant neoplasm of skin.
 
Code for cataracts due to radiation with code 366.46. Use code E929.2 for exposure to radiation from visible and ultraviolet light sources.
 
It’s time for summer fun, so just remember to be safe and protect your skin and eyes from the dangers of UV exposure. And of course, consider other alternatives to obtain that healthy glow that are safer than sunlight. The best bet may be to invest in some self-tanning lotion or tanning sprays available through many tanning salons. It may feel odd to be “hosed down” with self-tanner, but it sure beats getting skin cancer or another disease associated with UV exposure.  
 
Have a happy and healthy summer!
 
Editor's note: Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC-I, CCDS is the director of coding and HIM for HCPro, Inc., in Chesterfield, VA. You can e-mail her at smccall@hcpro.com.

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