Question

question 10

a woman comes in for her annual exam with a cervical pap smear. the results are abnormal, although they are not diagnostic of any specific disease. a second pap smear is obtained, and this test identifies only norma cells. what diagnosis identifies the medical necessity for the second pap smear?

n92.4
n92.6
n92.3
r87.619

Explanation:

Analyze the clinical scenario and medical necessity

The patient had an initial abnormal cervical Pap smear that was "not diagnostic of any specific disease" (nonspecific abnormal findings). A repeat (second) Pap smear was performed to follow up on this finding. The medical necessity for ordering and performing the second test is justified by the initial abnormal, non-diagnostic result.

Identify the correct ICD-10-CM code

• R87.619: Unspecified abnormal cytological findings in specimens from cervix uteri (abnormal Papanicolaou smear of cervix uteri, unspecified). This directly represents the abnormal, non-diagnostic Pap smear result that necessitated the repeat test.
• N92.4, N92.6, N92.3: These codes represent excessive, frequent, irregular, or scanty menstruation (uterine bleeding disorders), which do not describe the abnormal Pap smear finding.

Select the matching option

The code that identifies the medical necessity for the repeat Pap smear is R87.619.

Answer:

• (A) N92.4
• (B) N92.6
• (C) N92.3
• (D) R87.619 (Correct answer)