Question: Medical codes?
 

Do any of you have a link to the medical codes used when doctors file medical claims?

I saw a specialist for my eyes today. He is well versed in dry eyes and how to treat them, but he is used to dealing with post lasic patients and not with people with Sjogren's Syndrome. We need to file on our medical insurance because we have no vision coverage. He did not have the codes for Sjogren's and wasn't sure the best way to file the paperwork in order to get us some coverage.

I appreciate any help for this.

Billye

IC
 

Billye,
try one of these and see if they are at all useful, if not I can rustle up some others for you. Hope they help some.
Best regards
Alkymst

http://icd9cm.chrisendres.com/

or http://www.icd9data.com/

this has a more general explanation and actually refers back to the 1st site
http://www.medicalcodingandbilling.c...dure_codes.htm

I would of thought his office staff would know,all I saw on operations on A. second one. Do you have a Ophthalomlogist sp.
that checks your eye slight every year some times every 6 months for me.
They may have the code, one time this happened with Bob I called Arrp
they gave me the code no. I needed. Wow I think I need my tested
after reading this. I was just going to ask you what you use for dry eyes.
The winter makes them so bad..Sorry this happened no fun. hugs Sue

Over the counter, for dry eyes, my favorite is Refresh Gel--it makes my eyes feel better. The doc tells me to use it at bedtime cause it does tend to blur your vision for a short time, but I use it anytime cause it does coat your eyes better. There is regular Refresh and he also recommends Systane. He frowns on any of the other products on the market that is over the counter. By the way, I work for an optomitrist. I too, am diagnosed with dry eye--he says because of my age and hormonal reasons, he refuses to believe it's autoimmune, I mean, you know, it can't be because I have celiac disease, geez!!!! He didn't diagnose that, so it can't be true!!!!

I can try and get a diagnosis code for you this morning at work, although, I am not sure if there is one for Sjogrens, specific to dry eye. I do know there is a code specific to dry eye, I use it all the time, but do not have it memorized...my memory is shot, I am surprised I remember my name!!!!!

Thanks all,
 

The code I was looking for was in the first link Alkymst!

Appreciate you finding this. Maybe make it into a "sticky"?

Billye

That's a great idea Billye, glad you found it,and Thanks A,I've got
to stop reading with dry eyes,in the winter late at night..Hugs to
all Sue..:)

Done
 

Billye,

Glad I was able to help you find the code you needed. As you suggested I placed all 3 links in a sticky.

Hope you get to feeling somewhat better soon.

Alkymst

It's a good thing you brought up ICD9 codes as, insurers do have algorithms that go with codes for many conditions....go out of those lines and the doc has to explain why...improper coding gets claims denied.

And, of course Sjogren's would have a code. It would be with the other autoimmune diseases...in the batch with RA, SLE etc...(just don't mention anything about seronegativity...just plain old Sjogrens Syndrome-so they code it right) There is another disease with 'Sjogren's' in it....Sjogren-Marinesco, which has nothing in common with or anything to do with Sjogrens Syndrome....this is what happens when they name diseases after the guy who discovers them.

I told my doc he could name my disease after himself if he discovers something 'new'....he said he would prefer to be known in perpetuity for something less morbid...go figure.

Now they seem to give the things they discover more generic scientific names....21st century man just has NO imagination.;)