With the ICD-10 implementation date drawing near, it is very important to have a thorough understanding of ICD-10 coding and documentation for asthma as it is a chronic condition common among the general population. Two axes of classification rarely documented by physicians in ICD-9 are not there in the ICD-10 system. Instead, two new axes of classification have been added in this coding system. If healthcare providers prepare ahead for ICD-10 documentation, they can avoid sudden drop in revenue at the time of implementation of the new coding system. Before going to ICD-10 coding in detail, let’s take a look at the prevailing ICD-9 codes for asthma. Show ICD-9 codes
ICD-10 Coding The new system does not compel physicians to categorize asthma as either intrinsic or extrinsic. There are no separate codes for chronic obstructive asthma as well. Instead, asthma is just asthma and categorized by its degree of severity. The terms mild, moderate and severe are used in the codes to differentiate the severity levels. The condition is further categorized as either intermittent or persistent. The subcategories are broken down by complication – uncomplicated, with acute exacerbation and with status asthma. In addition to this, there are codes for other and unspecified asthma. The ICD-10 codes for asthma are given below.
ICD-10 Documentation To assign appropriate ICD-10 codes at the highest level of specificity, the documentation must include severity and complication of the condition. Requirements specified for each level of severity are as follows. Intermittent
Mild Persistent
Moderate Persistent
Severe Persistent
Physicians must document their observations clearly, including all details so that the coders can assign the correct codes. According to the 2010 statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 14.2 million visits to physician offices, 1.8 million visits to emergency departments and 1.3 million visits to hospital outpatient departments with asthma as primary diagnosis. With millions newly insured since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), these figures may increase at the time of ICD-10 roll out. In such a scenario, healthcare providers can seek support for billing and coding services by a medical billing and coding company to meet the copious medical billing and coding requirements. What is severe persistent asthma with acute exacerbation?Acute asthma exacerbations are episodes of worsening asthma symptoms and lung function; they can be the presenting manifestation of asthma or occur in patients with a known asthma diagnosis in response to a "trigger" such as viral upper respiratory infection, allergen, air pollution or other irritant exposure, lack of ...
How do you code acute asthma exacerbation?Unspecified asthma with (acute) exacerbation
J45. 901 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
What is the ICDThe ICD-CM codes for asthma have changed from 493.00 – 493.99 in ICD-9-CM to J45. 0 – J45. 998 in ICD-10-CM (Table).
What is the difference between asthma and status asthmaticus?Status asthmaticus is an older, less precise term for what's now more commonly known as acute severe asthma or a severe asthma exacerbation. It refers to an asthma attack that doesn't improve with traditional treatments, such as inhaled bronchodilators. These attacks can last for several minutes or even hours.
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