# Workers Comp claim - Ebola

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 23, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276 "2014-10-23T18:51:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276/1 "2014-10-23T18:51:23Z")

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Good news, Texas nurse Amber Vinson has improved and will soon be transferred out of isolation. They saved her dog too. 😉

> **[Ebola outbreak: Get up to speed with the latest developments | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/23/health/ebola-up-to-speed/index.html?hpt=hp_t2)**
>
> With multiple developments underway, here’s the latest on the Ebola outbreak.

Now what about the Workers Comp claim? Do they have a check box for Ebola? She got injured on the job.

😃

I recall Dr. Kent Brantly (the 1st American Ebola patient) said Ebola really sapped his strength. It could be a couple months before these patients are ready to return to work. Its is wonderful that they are recovering. I guess the Nurses will get workers comp checks eventually.

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**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276/2 "2014-10-23T19:03:46Z")

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Nina Pham is the nurse with the dog. And yes, the pooch is Ebola-free.

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**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276/3 "2014-10-23T19:39:59Z")

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Funny you should mention that.

Medical claims use diagnosis codes called ICD codes. The US currently uses ICD9, which is at least 20 years old. ICD10 has been under implementation by the industry for a couple of years now.

There is no ICD-9 diagnosis code specific to Ebola. The docs would use [065.8](http://www.icd9data.com/2014/Volume1/001-139/060-066/065/065.8.htm) (Other specified arthropod-borne hemorrhagic fever) on the claim.

When the country switches to ICD-10 (next October), the [code](http://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/A00-B99/A90-A99/A98-/A98.4)will be A98.4.

If Ebola did become a big problem in the US, ICD-10 would help the CDC and WHO track and document cases, but ICD-10 was put off a couple of times, so it’s not in play yet.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276/4 "2014-10-23T20:16:58Z")

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Interesting that they’ve already considered this for workers comp. Always be prepared.

thank you for the information.

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276/5 "2014-10-24T00:17:39Z")

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Well, it _was_ an on-the-job hazard, Worker’s Comp is the logical place to go for a claim.

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**Author:** ![huitzilopochtli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e99b99/32.png) [@huitzilopochtli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/huitzilopochtli)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workers-comp-claim-ebola/702276/6 "2014-10-24T00:32:23Z")

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ICD-10 is used worldwide. It’s the U.S. that’s behind on this. Workers’ comp hasn’t considered it, the rest of the world considers it worth coding.