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Use of the -22 modifier for complicated cerclage placement
Use of the -22 modifier for complicated cerclage placement

Cerclage placement may be indicated based on 1) obstetrical history of cervical insufficiency; 2) physical examination findings concerning for cervical insufficiency; or 3) for a history of preterm birth with ultrasound evidence of cervical shortening. In recent years, placement of exam or... Continue Reading

Date posted02/1/2017


Reporting Complications in Pregnancy When No Specific Codes Exists
Reporting Complications in Pregnancy When No Specific Codes Exists

One challenge for ICD-10-CM code selection for MFM is the presentation of symptoms or conditions for which a precise diagnosis code doesn’t exist. ICD-10-CM offers several categories and subcategories from which to choose. They are: O09.89- Supervision of other high risk... Continue Reading

Date posted12/1/2016


Perinatal Telemedicine
Perinatal Telemedicine

Telemedicine is the delivery of medical care or services from a distant site. Telemedicine provides two-way, communication between a patient and healthcare provider at a distant site. The communication is supported by audio and video equipment that allows a physician at the main hospital/office to... Continue Reading

Date posted10/31/2016


Comparing variation in hospital rates of cesarean delivery among low risk women using 3 measures
Comparing variation in hospital rates of cesarean delivery among low risk women using 3 measures

This report describes the development of a measure of low-risk cesarean delivery by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). Safely lowering the cesarean delivery rate is a priority for maternity care clinicians and health care delivery systems. Therefore, hospital quality assurance... Continue Reading

Date posted10/1/2016


New ICD-10 Codes for Gestational Diabetes and Pre-eclampsia in postpartum
New ICD-10 Codes for Gestational Diabetes and Pre-eclampsia in postpartum

Gestational Diabetes ICD-10 Codes: New codes have been added to indicate when gestational diabetes (diabetes that starts during pregnancy) is controlled by oral hypoglycemic drugs, during pregnancy, childbirth or in the puerperium: O24.415 Gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, controlled... Continue Reading

Date posted09/30/2016


Severe maternal morbidity: screening and review
Severe maternal morbidity: screening and review

This document builds upon recommendations from peer organizations and outlines a process for identifying maternal cases that should be reviewed. Severe maternal morbidity is associated with a high rate of preventability, similar to that of maternal mortality. It also can be considered a near miss... Continue Reading

Date posted06/1/2016


SMFM Consult Series#39: Diagnosis and antenatal management of congenital cytomegalovirus infection
SMFM Consult Series#39: Diagnosis and antenatal management of congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Diagnosis/definition: Primary Infection: After suspicious ultrasonographic findings (e.g echogenic bowel, cerebral ventriculomegaly and calcifications, and IUGR)- testing for maternal CMV infection For women suspected of having primary CMV infection in pregnancy, diagnosis should be either... Continue Reading

Date posted05/1/2016


Amniotic fluid embolism: diagnosis and management
Amniotic fluid embolism: diagnosis and management

Diagnosis/definition: Triad of sudden hypoxia and hypotension, followed in many cases by coagulopathy, all occurring in relation to labor and delivery DDX in any women with sudden cardiovascular collapse or cardiac arrest seizures, severe respiratory difficulty or hypoxia, particularly if... Continue Reading

Date posted04/1/2016


Hepatitis B in pregnancy: screening, treatment, and prevention of vertical transmission
Hepatitis B in pregnancy: screening, treatment, and prevention of vertical transmission

Diagnosis/definition: The diagnosis of the chronic carrier state is confirmed with persistence of HBsAg and the absence of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb). HBsAg and HBsAb do not coexist.Start with maternal HBsAg. HBV core ab is produced secondary to infection (never from... Continue Reading

Date posted02/1/2016


The Zika Virus
The Zika Virus

The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that has been associated with congenital defects, primarily of the central nervous system. According to the CDC, clinicians should screen women who have traveled to known areas of Zika transmission. Pregnant women who report clinical illness consistent... Continue Reading

Date posted01/31/2016


Multifetal gestations: twin, triplet, and higher-order multifetal pregnancies- Interim Update
Multifetal gestations: twin, triplet, and higher-order multifetal pregnancies- Interim Update

The incidence of multifetal gestations in the United States has increased dramatically over the past several decades. The rate of twin births increased 76% between 1980 and 2009, from 18.9 to 33.3 per 1,000 births (). The rate of triplet and higher-order multifetal gestations increased more than... Continue Reading

Date posted01/1/2016


Short cervix in the first trimester
Short cervix in the first trimester

Currently, there is no ICD-10 code for cervical shortening in the first trimester. However, the cervix could be short in the first trimester due to prior cervical procedures, congenital malformations, previously diagnosed cervical insufficiency, etc. In those situations, the suggested codes to... Continue Reading

Date posted11/30/2015