Q&A late effect vs residual effect

[Kevin Luh]

AAPC says: A "late effect" is the residual effect that remains after the acute phase of an illness or injury has terminated. It also says: The residual effect is coded first and is followed by the "late effect" code to show the cause of the late effect condition.

This concept really troubles me. I used to think that the two terms (late effect and residual effect) are the same things. However, it seems to me that there's one specific code for the residual effect and another code for the late effect. Could you provide me an example? I think an example will make it easier for me to see how the guideline's applied.

Thank you so much.

 

[Ruth Sheets]

This was answered in the July 2013 Q&A Webinar. If you missed the webinar, CCO Club members get the Answer Sheets and Transcripts and video clips to all previous webinars. Also, here is a blog post that talks about Late Effects.
https://www.cco.us/video-late-effect-guidelines/

 

[Kevin Luh]

I attended that webinar. Thanks.

 

[Ruth Sheets]

And the video is here:
https://www.cco.us/medical-coding-late-effect-vs-residual-effect-video/