American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

For a routine well-child exam, what is the correct ICD-9-CM diagnostic code for an expreemie child?

1. V20.1, 765.10

2. V20.2

3. V20.2, 765.10

4. V20.2, 765.19

The correct answer is: V20.2, 765.10

The correct diagnostic code for a routine well-child exam in an expreemie child includes both the well-child examination code and the specific code for the expreemie status. The code V20.2 is designated for "Routine infant or child health check," which is appropriate for a well-child exam. This code is essential for indicating that the encounter is part of preventive care and tracking the child’s growth and development. The second part, 765.10, corresponds to "Other low birth weight infant," which captures the unique circumstances of an expreemie child. Expreemie infants may have special health considerations, and coding these factors helps in documenting their medical history and monitoring their progress against developmental milestones. In summary, when you combine V20.2 for the well-child exam with 765.10 for the specific health status of the expreemie, it accurately reflects the reason for the visit while acknowledging the child's distinct medical background. This thorough coding approach is necessary for appropriate medical documentation and insurance billing.