[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Dysphasia is a communication disorder that occurs when the part of a person’s brain that controls language sustains damage. Usually taking the form of difficulty speaking or comprehending language, this condition is often billed as Diagnosis Code 438.12, which is a reference to the U.S. health system’s list of codes used to describe diagnoses, or the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). Navigating this code can be complicated, so if you currently suffer from dysphasia and believe that you may qualify for reimbursement, please contact a member of our home healthcare services team today for assistance.
What is the ICD-9?
Adapted from the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-9 is a series of standardized codes that correspond to certain diseases and procedures (CDC/National Center for Health Statistics, 2015). These codes can be entered into a patient’s electronic health record and utilized for diagnostic and billing purposes. However, symptoms, mental disorders, causes of injury, and patient complaints can also be classified and codified in the system.
In 2015, ICD-10, the updated version of the standardized billing code went into effect. However, some sectors of the U.S. healthcare system, such as long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and small employer-based payers have still not converted to the ICD-10 list. This has led to the U.S. healthcare system becoming a hybrid ICD-9/ICD-10 system.
What is Dysphasia?
Dysphasia is a medical condition characterized by the impairment of language skills, including talking, reading, writing, and understanding, and is usually the result of damage to the left side of the brain. Although how dysphasia manifests differs depending on which parts and how much of a person’s brain is affected, typical symptoms include a difficulty with:
- Concentrating;
- Remembering information;
- Comprehending what people are saying;
- Using or understanding gestures or facial expressions;
- Comprehending written information;
- Mixing up the sounds in or meanings of words;
- Recognizing certain words or sounds; and
- Finding or using the correct word.
Dysphasia has a number of potential causes, although some are more common than others, including:
- Strokes, which occur when the blood supply to certain parts of the brain becomes blocked;
- Trauma, usually resulting from an accident, exposure to a toxic substance, or an infection;
- Brain tumors; and
- Degenerative diseases, such as dementia.
Recovering from Dysphasia
Dysphasia often resolves quickly, allowing patients to recover and move on with their lives in a relatively short amount of time. It is also possible, however, that those who suffer from this condition will face ongoing difficulties that will require the assistance of a speech pathologist. Otherwise, treatment of dysphasia will depend on the specific difficulties being experienced by a patient. A number of communication aids are usually utilized in some way, such as: white boards, electronics, and picture boards, all of which can be used in the short or long term and can help patients communicate with others.
Dysphasia Reimbursement Claims
Treating dysphasia can be expensive, especially for those who require long-term assistance. Fortunately, those who qualify for Medicaid or another government compensation program could be eligible for partial or full reimbursement for these costs. For instance, if a person is a beneficiary of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) or the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA), he or she could qualify for free home healthcare services. These services can play a crucial role in helping patients who have been diagnosed with dysphasia under the ICD-9 codes, relearn words and grammar, read and write, and communicate with loved ones and medical professionals.
How We Can Help
At United Energy Workers Healthcare, our home healthcare services team is uniquely equipped to help patients who are struggling with dysphasia adapt to their illness, as our team is made up of both personal caregivers and registered nurses. The former provide personal care to patients, assist with daily functions, perform light housekeeping, and prepare meals, while the latter help administer medications and monitor patients’ conditions. We can also help family members cope with the challenges of caring for an ailing loved one and provide direction on helpful therapies and rehabilitation methods.
Contact Our Home Healthcare Services Team Today
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with dysphasia and have questions about your own eligibility to receive free medical care and home health services, please contact us at United Energy Workers Healthcare today. You can reach us by calling 888-298-8126 or by completing one of our brief online contact forms.
ICD – ICD-9-CM – International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd9cm.htm.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]