Does Code 173.61 Include Hand or Fingers for Medical Billing?
Posted by
Ali Ziehm on Thu, Oct 27, 2011 @ 01:33 PM
173.61 is the ICD-9-CM diagnosis code for basal cell carcinoma of skin of upper limb, including shoulder—one of the new dermatology codes that took effect on October 1, 2011. (Please see our blog article, "Updated Dermatology Codes For Medical Billing.")
The answer to the question is yes, this diagnosis would include hand or finger.
To answer this question, we referred to ICD-9-CM For Physicians, Volumes 1&2 2012 Expert Edition from Ingenix/Optum Insight. When you look under neoplasm, skin, hand or finger, note that it states (Neoplasm, skin, upper limb) and because it is a basal cell carcinoma, you would code with the 1 at the end.
Thanks for your question. We hope this helps.
