To receive reimbursement for diagnosis, the ICD 9 code for Multiple Sclerosis has to be added to the claim by the company issuing the reimbursement. 340 is the ICD 9 code for MS diagnoses, but MS patients don’t need to know this code in order to submit a reimbursement claim. Companies specializing in medical billing have a long list of ICD 9 codes which are attached to claims for reimbursement of all types of illnesses. Each illness is given a specific code and often subcategories under a main illness are issued the same code number.
For instance, not only does a diagnosis for MS receive the 340 code, but also any other illness that happens to fall under the specific diagnosis definition for this same code. 340 is used for medical billing of a chronic disease with the following characteristics; a “pins and needles” feeling somewhere in the body, lack of coordination, demyelination within the central nervous system, and disturbances in speech. The origin of the disease also has to be unknown. This combination of characteristics can be applied to widely spread scarring on the brain stem, spinal cord, or in a generalized location of the nervous system. Global demyelination and sclerosis that is progressive, cerebrospinal, or in combined areas also fall under code 340 for medical billing purposes.
Managing MS Symptoms after Diagnosis
Upon being diagnosed with MS, an individual has to consider what changes need to be made. Daily tasks may become more difficult to complete as the disease progresses and being prepared to handle such changes takes careful planning. Doctors do what they can for MS patients by prescribing the necessary meds to combat various symptoms, shorten relapses, or modify the disease to slow progression. The initial diagnosis for MS is often RRMS, which is a stage of Multiple Sclerosis in which symptoms can arise suddenly and then disappear for weeks, months, or years at a time.
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis patients benefit from disease-modifying drugs. Medications such as these tend to prevent relapses from occurring, which enables the individual to be symptom-free for a long period of time as the disease goes into remission. The accumulation of lesions is slowed down when MS flare-ups are prevented. Besides taking the appropriate meds, MS patients can monitor their diet, exercise to maintain as much flexibility and mobility as possible, and try to stay at a healthy weight level to avoid any further health complications.
The ICD 9 Code for Multiple Sclerosis makes it possible for medical billing companies to complete reimbursement claims for newly diagnosed MS patients. Without the ICD 9 Code for MS, clarifying which disease was diagnosed would add onto the already lengthy process required for reimbursement claims.
