Re: recommended ICD-9 coding for mycotoxicosis

[Guest guest]

Good work, Bill! And I'm thinking not only healthcare insurance, but

those dastardly LTD policies and maybe SSDI as well. If anyone knows

different, please speak up.

Thanks.

> http://icd9cm.chrisendres.com/index.php?action=child & recordid=9674

[Guest guest]

Serena, thanks!

The top level comments for 980-989 codes says:

" Use additional code(s) to specify the nature of the toxic effect "

http://icd9cm.chrisendres.com/index.php?action=child & recordid=9620

So a more complete writeup of codes for mycotoxicosis would include

the organ or system effected, e.g.:

989.7 Mycotoxicosis, mycotoxins via lungs

357.7 Peripheral nervous system polyneuropathy due to toxic agent

781.3 Lack of coordination, muscular incoordination

310.8 Short term memory disturbance following CNS organic damage

.... etc.

--Bill Croft

>

> Good work, Bill! And I'm thinking not only healthcare insurance, but

> those dastardly LTD policies and maybe SSDI as well. If anyone knows

> different, please speak up.

>

> Thanks.

>

> > http://icd9cm.chrisendres.com/index.php?action=child & recordid=9674

>

[Guest guest]

(Sharon, hi. See the last post on this subject suggesting several

codes from ICD-9.)

Depending on how knowledgeable your doc is on Mold Warriors (get him a

copy) -- _YOU_ may have to suggest the probable codes to him.

Especially if he is only familiar with allergies and not

mycotoxicosis. So please do some research in the online ICD-9 link

previously mentioned and list your own codes here in the group!

For example, if you are failing the VCS, Visual Contrast Sensitivity

test at http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com , this code might be

appropriate:

377.63 Disorder of optic nerve and visual pathways associated with

inflammatory disorder

In addition to the blood tests that Shoemaker orders, Dr. Kaye Kilburn

has a whole battery of " performance " tests that can turn up neurotoxin

effects in e.g. reaction time, hearing, balance, visual fields, memory

tests, etc.

http://www.neuro-test.com/

Kilburn also does expert testimony in damage suits:

" Neuro-Test Inc (NTI) provides legal services such as expert

testimony, and depositions. In addition we provide neurological field

studies on exposed populations involved in either class action or

individual lawsuits. "

----

Kilburn's book, Mold and Mycotoxins, is highly recommended:

http://www.neuro-test.com/moldsblurb.htm

Mold and Mycotoxins

Papers from an International Symposium

Kaye H. Kilburn, M.D. Editor

Heldref Publications 2004

From the jacket:

" Are illnesses associated with exposures to indoor mold growth real,

or the results of a conspiracy fueled by media hype and greedy

lawyers? This book is a compilation of 18 current, scientific, peer

reviewed papers presented in 2003 †" a veritable mountain of evidence

that many mold-exposed people are indeed sick, with significant brain

function impairment. The published investigations collected here are

based on measurements of single patients and groups, studied

systematically. Physiological functions and brain scans (single photon

emission computed tomography (SPECT) and quantitative

electroencephalograms) were abnormal. Mechanisms of mold damage to

brain cells resemble those for Gulf War Syndrome, chemical

intolerance, and exposure to chlorine, ammonia, or hydrogen sulfide

(“rotten eggâ€) gases. Clear evidence of brain impairment in several

hundred people controverts questions and charges of malingering and

secondary gain. " ...

--Bill Croft

>

> So what are the appropriate codes for doctors to use in designating

illness

> from mold toxin exposure?

>

>

> Sharon