I certainly understand your input and understand your frustration. And, thanks for the explanation. And, you are correct.
I just simply don't have time to code 12 ICD codes in one visit. In fact, I doubt I have done more than four in my career. I guess for me the granularity was, lower extrimity pain, then on left, then on calf, then without rash, etc. I wouldn't be able to see a patient with ten separate diagnoses. Oh well, I just don't understand. But, I am not concerned. It was important to document with ICD-9, and I was never audited.
But, I understand what you say.
