APPLICATION
Abortion Codes
1. When coding a therapeuti c abortion, code also the reason why the abortion was
performed.
EXAMPLE:
DIAGNOSIS: Therapeutic abortion, complete,
635.92 - 1
due to severe maternal rheumatic
heart disease
648.6 398.9
D&C
69.1
2. An admission for complication(s) after an abortion is coded to category 639.
EXAMPLE:
DIAGNOSIS: Excessive hemorrhage following
693.1
elective abortion at Cypress
Community Hospital
2. Pregnancy and Puerperium Category Codes.
a. Categories 64-676 have fifth-digit codes to provide more specificity regarding
the outcome of current hospitalization. Specifically, the fifth digits have the following
meanings: (See Volume 1, page 537).
- Unspecified as to the episode of care or not applicable. (The fifth digit ""
will be used only to denote abortive outcome.)
1 - Delivery with or without mention of antepartum condition.
2 - Delivery with mention of postpartum complication during present episode of
care.
3 - Antepartum condition or complication (undelivered).
4 - Postpartum condition or complication following delivery that occurred during
previous episode of care or outside hospital with subsequent admission.
b. Puerperal complications are those occurring after delivery until 6 weeks
following termination of pregnancy. Fifth digits "2" and "4" will distinguish between
immediate (during present episode of care) and delayed puerperal
complications/conditions.
c. The ICD-9-CM index will often direct coder to the same fourth-digit code for
complications that are related to pregnancy, childbirth (delivery) and the puerperium.
The fifth digits for these categories will indicate the specific status of patient at
disposition.
MD0753
A-31