2025 ICD-10-CM code O77
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Obstetrics - Complications of labor and delivery Chapter 15: Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium Feed
Other fetal stress complicating labor and delivery.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on circumstances (e.g., place of service, type of provider).Consult current coding guidelines.
Medical necessity for the coding of O77 relies on the presence of documented fetal distress that requires intervention or monitoring. Documentation supporting the clinical need for labor management or expeditious delivery is essential for accurate billing and payment.The justification will depend on the reason for the intervention and its necessity to improve fetal outcomes.
The clinical responsibility for coding O77 rests with the obstetrician or other qualified healthcare professional managing the delivery.Accurate documentation of fetal heart rate monitoring, any interventions, and the outcome are crucial for proper code assignment.
- Chapter 15: Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
- O77 is within the broader category of Complications of labor and delivery (O60-O77).
In simple words: This code is used when the baby experiences stress during labor and delivery that isn't listed in more specific medical codes. It covers problems that happen to the baby during birth.
This code encompasses various fetal stresses during labor and delivery not otherwise specified.It includes conditions impacting the fetus that arise during the birthing process, excluding those with specific codes within the O77 category.This is a residual category for fetal distress not otherwise classified.
Example 1: A term infant displays late decelerations during labor requiring emergency C-section delivery. No other specific cause for fetal distress identified., A fetus shows signs of hypoxia during labor (tachycardia, bradycardia, etc) but the etiology is not immediately obvious, resulting in an expedited delivery. , A patient experiences prolonged labor with non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns requiring a vacuum-assisted delivery, but the exact cause of the fetal distress is undetermined.
Comprehensive documentation is needed, including maternal and fetal history, labor progress, fetal heart rate monitoring tracings, any interventions (e.g., oxygen, medication), Apgar scores, and neonatal outcomes. Any suspicion of underlying maternal or fetal conditions should be documented.
** O77 is a residual category intended for use only when a more specific code is not available.Appropriate use of this code requires diligent clinical documentation to support the diagnosis.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.This is a diagnosis code, not a procedure code.
- Specialties:Obstetrics, Neonatology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Birthing Center, Ambulatory Surgical Center