Global Disasters

There is a lot going on in the world today.  With the earthquake in Japan, tsunami, and now radiation leaking, there is a large part of the world that is in dire need.  Some of that need has made its way here to Northern California where I live.  The tsunami hit the far northern coast of California slamming the biggest fishing community with $20 million in damages, and counting.  Santa Cruz has $17 million in damages, and the radiation cloud that has been forming could very well reach the United States, in smaller doses.  The US is also going to be evacuating its own residents from the disaster area, and probably at least a number of the more greviously injured persons for medical care here.  It is possible that some billing departments and coding departments could see some of the impacts of this disaster close up.

I have not seen anything on the news that the ICD-9 has not already accounted for.  For example:

Radiation poisoning has a diagnosis code of 508.0
Adverse effects of radiation is 990

The earthquake would have injuries such as:
crushing injury, 929.9 or
exposure 994.9

tsunami would possibly have:
drowning 994.1

When a natural disaster happens ,there is a way in which we, in this industry, can be prepared within our own profession.  Watch the news.  Keep up on the current events.  When you hear of things happening around you, even if they are across the globe, take the time to see how you would handle them were the claim in front of you today.  It is altogether possible, that it might be tomorrow.

My heart and prayers are with the people of Japan.

Until next time,

Thanks,
Lori

http://www.sinclairinkspot.com/
Loretta Sinclair
Author, Medical Billing, Coding and Reimbursement
How to Run Your Own Home Medical Billing Service
Annotation Press, 2007, 2008
Available in print and on Kindle

Marketing Your Medical Billing Service
Sinclair Publications, 2011
available in ebook format only
See http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, or http://www.sinclairinkspot.com.market/

Medical Billing, Coding, and Reimbursement
Supplemental Workbook
Sinclair Publications
copyright 2009

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