Find Correct Code for Folate Deficiency Diagnosis
Question: A provider saw a 35-year-old patient who complained of fatigue. The patient’s record showed past iron-deficiency anemia, and the provider mentioned this and ordered bloodwork to check the patient’s iron levels, as well as folate levels. The provider recorded that the blood test results showed that the patient is deficient in folate but not iron, nor is the patient experiencing anemia. The provider recommended that the patient adjust their diet to accommodate more foods high in folate. I submitted the ICD-10-CM code D52.9, but the claim was denied. Was this diagnosis code incorrect? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: There are two ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes to report folate deficiency, but the D52.- (Folate deficiency anemia) codes indicate that the patient is experiencing anemia related to the deficiency. In fact, if you look at the ICD-10-CM code book, you’ll see that there’s an Excludes1 note for D52 for folate deficiency without anemia. Following the ICD-10-CM code book’s guidance, you’d instead look to code E53.8 (Folate deficiency without anemia) to report this patient’s current condition, since the provider specified that the patient is currently suffering from folate deficiency but not iron deficiency nor anemia. Rachel Dorrell, MA, MS, CPC-A, CPPM, Production Editor, AAPC
