ICD BMI question

[Chaim]

If the weight is documented, the height is documented, but no BMI is documented, being that the weight and height is all you need to calculate the BMI, can I code for the BMI?

 

[Ruth Sheets]

Everyone has a BMI, at all times, but unless the doctor calls it out, that is, documents it, I would say 'do not code it'. Obviously, he/she did not think it important enough to bother figuring it out and to document it.

Any other opinions out there?

 

[louise]

If your doc is using an EMR, there may be a setting that will allow automatic calculation, and notation, of BMI upon the entry of weight and height. Of course, he needs to enter the figures in the correct fields instead of the text of his dictation. Usually this is the task of the CNA.

 

[Chaim]

Unfortunately, my company still deals in the caveman era, lol. I have to decipher their atrocious hand writing which looks like scribble scrabble. literally looks like squiggly lines, and nothing like script.

 

[Chaim]

But I have learned how to decipher their squiggly lines

 

[louise]

Do your docs see Medicare and Medicaid patients? Just curious. In this age of incentive payments, it's always interesting to find docs that still practice WayBackWhen. What is their specialty?

 

[Chaim]

Yes they do, and they practice internal medicine. We do have some specialists, like one acupuncturist, and a neurologists, but they are floaters.

Most of our doctors are old school. There are only a few young ones.