Medical Coding Icd - 9 coding history codes and cancer

History Codes and Cancer I like this because this is something that it seems like every student asks about so I've explained it so many times I just wait for them to ask. Someone asked via the last session I believe on V58.11 or V10.3 had seen it on commentator on Amazon pointed out that one cannot code these two codes together and then they had looked up both codes and can't see why they can't be coded together. Well, this is real easy, Marty is the one that had asked us. It is true you cannot code these two codes together because when you look up V10.3 and you read the guidelines of the history code it states for example: a code for breast cancer cannot be used a history of breast cancer if the person is getting treatment for breast cancer. Therefore if you are going to use V10.3 that means its a history, they had breast cancer they are no longer getting treatment, unlike V58.11 which is a chemotherapy code and treatment for their cancer and therefore a history code is not applicable. Keep that in mind, and even on your code books its a good idea to write treatment for their cancer. Good idea to write maybe next to your history code "no longer getting treatment". I believe that even if primary and secondary cancer, lets say your patient had breast cancer, is no longer getting treatment for that breast cancer they had that ten years ago and then a year ago they found they have lung cancer, that is a secondary cancer to the breast cancer and you no longer can use the history code. Isn't that right Laureen? Laureen: Yes So, if you are getting treatment for any cancer after or during the time that you have cancer, history code does not apply. So make sure you make a note right next to your V code on that. Laureen: Alright, thank you. Get more cpc exam tips, coding certification training and ceu credits. Go to http://www.codingcertification.org