Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

ICD-10 CM:

Drill Down on These Dxs With More Specific Codes

Published on Wed Sep 22, 2021

Cervicogenic headache will get its own code.

No need for alarm, but this is the month you’re supposed to begin using the new diagnosis codes from the ICD-10 2022 code set.

Wait… what? Remember, ICD-10 codes for the following year (2022) go into effect in the October of the previous year (2021).

If you’re still digesting the changes, check out this specialty-specific news on the new ICD-10 list, so you have all the info you need to code through the first few months with the new ICD-10 codes.

Additions Include Cervicogenic Headache Code

One of the new codes you’ll want to acquaint yourself with is G44.86 (Cervicogenic headache).

What’s the difference? Under G44.8 (Other specified headache syndromes) in ICD-10 2022, the code list will look like this (new codes in bold):

G44.81 (Hypnic headache)
G44.82 (Headache associated with sexual activity)
G44.83 (Primary cough headache)
G44.84 (Primary exertional headache)
G44.85 (Primary stabbing headache)
G44.86 (Cervicogenic headache)
G44.89 (Other headache syndrome).

So starting in October, you should report G44.86 for cervicogenic headache rather than G44.89.

New Codes Focus on Expanding Existing Sets

One of the code groups that’s undergoing the most dramatic transformations is M35.0 (Sicca syndrome [Sjogren]) — and it’s a bit complicated. First, ICD-10 has changed the terminology for the entire code set, subbing “Sjogren syndrome” for “Sicca syndrome.” So, starting October 1, 2021, the descriptor will read: M35.0 (Sjogren syndrome).

Next, ICD-10 added a host of codes with the new verbiage to the M35.0 set.

End result: A greatly expanded code set, with the codes already in the set significantly revised.

The order might be different in the final publication, but under M35.0 in ICD-10 2022, the code list will look like this (new codes in bold/italic; revised codes in italic):