Question
Which ICD-9 code should be used for the primary diagnosis? For example, if an individual who has Down Syndrome comes in for speech therapy, do we code the Down Syndrome (or medical diagnosis) as the primary diagnosis followed by the speech diagnosis--or
Answer
You should code the disorder(s) you are evaluating and treating primarily (in this case the language disorder), and then you can list as secondary diagnoses any related medical disorders.
Nancy Swigert, e is the Director of Speech-Language Pathology and Respiratory Care at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, KY. She is also Chair of the ASHA Health Care Economics Committee.
Nancy Swigert ., M.A.,CCC-SLP
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