My question is if a patient comes into the Cardiologist’s office as a follow up from an inpatient stay from an Acute MI, it is within the 8 weeks, how would you code the visit?  Is it considered a subsequent episode of care since it is a follow up from the hospital stay, using the 5^th digit of a “2” or is it considered an old MI (412) but it is not over 8 weeks since the initial episode of care for the acute MI?

If it is within the 8 weeks and the reason for the visit is continued care for the MI condition, then assign 410.x2.  This would be considered a follow-up since the patient has been discharged from the original facility where care was first rendered.

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Christina Benjamin
Independent Coding & Education Consultant
Email: cmbenjamin@bellsouth.net
www.tools4coding.com