Should I use ICD-9 code 389.9 for normal hearing? What should I use in ICD-10?
Answer
If you use the code 389.9, you have just coded a hearing loss. This would NOT be my recommendation when the patient has normal hearing as "rule" out conditions should not be used once they are found to be non-existent.
Regarding ICD-10, you do not code something that the patient does not have in order to ensure payment. Sometimes patients are responsible for the cost of healthcare. In ICD9, I would recommend V65.5 (feared complaint; no diagnosis). In ICD10, I would recommend Z01.10 (hearing/vestibular exam without abnormal findings). You always, in these cases, also code the signs and symptoms that led to the medical necessity of testing.
Kim Cavitt, AuD
Kim Cavitt, AuD was a clinical audiologist and preceptor at The Ohio State University and Northwestern University for the first ten years of her career. Since 2001, Dr. Cavitt has operated her own Audiology consulting firm, Audiology Resources, Inc. Audiology Resources, Inc. provides comprehensive operational and reimbursement consulting services to hearing healthcare clinics, providers, organizations, buying groups, and manufacturers who want to be better equipped to compete in the managed care and healthcare arenas. She currently serves on the Board of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology and the State of Illinois Speech Pathology and Audiology Licensure Board. She also serves on committees through AAA and ASHA and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University.
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