Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: What are the codes for dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension?

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Answer: The default ICD-10 code for dyspnea is R06.00 (Dyspnea, unspecified). The ICD-10 Index lists many others options, so be sure to check the Index and Tabular before making your final code choice. For instance, you may find that R06.02 (Shortness of breath) is more appropriate, based upon the documentation. The Index also points you to the entry for “Failure, ventricular, left” for “Dyspnea, cardiac.”

For pulmonary hypertension (PHTN), the default code is I27.2 (Other secondary pulmonary hypertension). Again, you may find a more appropriate choice for your case by reviewing the entries in the Index and Tabular, such as I26.09 (Other pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale).