How long can my provider continue to code abnormal pap smear after normal result? For example, patient had abnormal pap smear in 2013, repeated in 2014 and it was normal. Provider wants 5 years of normal results before she recommends having pap smear every 3 years. I’m not questioning the recommendation only how many years we can continue to use abnormal result diagnosis code. I cannot seem to find a clear answer on this. It seems to me that after the 1st two normal results we should be coding it as a screening with hx of abnormal pap if the provider wants it repeated yearly for this many years.