Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Published on Sat Oct 07, 2006 PDF

Question: Our physician saw a hypoglycemic patient, but we aren't sure which hypoglycemia code applies. Do you have any advice on selecting an ICD-9 code for this condition?


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Answer: If the patient has diabetic hypoglycemia, you should report 250.8x (Diabetic hypoglycemia).
 
If not, you should select one of the following codes, based on the physician's documentation:

• 250.3x -- Diabetes with other coma (diabetic hypoglycemic coma) 

• 251.0 -- Hypoglycemic coma

• 251.1 -- Other specified hypoglycemia 

• 251.2 -- Hypoglycemia, unspecified.
  
Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Kathy Pride, CPC, CCS-P, director of consulting and training for QuadraMed in Reston, Va.; and Bruce Rappoport, MD, CPC, a board-certified internist who works with physicians on compliance, documentation, coding and quality issues for Rachlin, Cohen & Holtz LLP, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based accounting firm with healthcare expertise.