How to Code a Lymphocele From an Excision

In order to code an inpatient medical procedure, including excision of a lymphocele, an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code, or ICD-9-CM code, is required. This number is a specific identifier for a particular medical intervention and can be used for record-keeping, billing and research. For an outpatient medical procedure, a Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) code is required. Identifying and using the correct code is vital for accurate billing.

Things You'll Need

• Knowledge of medical coding database
• Access to American Medical Association's CPT codes

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Instructions

• 1

  Identify whether lymphocele excision was an inpatient or outpatient procedure. If inpatient, see step 2. If outpatient, see step 3.

• 2

  Identify the correct ICD-9-CM procedure code for inpatient excision of a lymphocele. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a free database of ICD-9-CM codes, and excision of a lymphocele is assigned 40.29 as of 2010.

• 3

  Identify the correct CPT procedure code for outpatient excision of a lymphocele. CPT code information must be purchased. Free online databases for these codes are not readily available, so the best option is to purchase code access through the American Medical Association (AMA) website listed in the Resource section of this article. Once access is obtained, simply identify the 5-digit code assigned to lymphocele excision.

• 4

  Insert codes from Steps 2 or 3 into your facility's medical coding database.