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Coding a Foreign Body Intentionally Left in the Body during an Operation

Published on 

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

 | RAC Information 
 | FAQ 

Q:

How would you code a foreign body that is intentionally left in the body during an operation since the ICD-10-CM codes are for situations where the foreign body was unintentionally left behind?



A:

The answer to this question comes from Coding Clinic, First Quarter 2014, page 21.  We are not to assign a complication code for something left intentionally during surgery. Coding Clinic made this change to reflect The National Quality Forum revised information on Serious Reportable Events in Healthcare.

Reference:

Coding Clinic, First Quarter 2014, page 21 

Article Author: Anita Meyers, RHIT, CCS
Anita Meyers, RHIT, CCS, is an Inpatient Coding Professional at Medical Management Plus. Anita has over twenty-six years of experience in inpatient and outpatient coding including 17 years of work at AQAF reviewing inpatient and outpatient records from Alabama hospitals. In addition to reviewing records she was the team leader in Beneficiary Services where she participated in case review activities, received and processed beneficiary complaints and handled fee-for-service denials for home health, hospice and skilled nursing facility services. Prior to joining the MMP team, Anita left AQAF to become an inpatient contract coder and worked at various hospitals in central Alabama. In her current position, Anita is an integral part of the Inpatient Services at Medical Management Plus.

This material was compiled to share information.  MMP, Inc. is not offering legal advice. Every reasonable effort has been taken to ensure the information is accurate and useful.