Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Our physician indicated the patient has diabetes complicated by peripheral neuropathy. What diagnosis codes can we report for this condition?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: When reporting diabetic neuropathy, the primary diagnosis code is 250.6x (Diabetes with neurological manifestations). Depending upon whether it is type I or type II diabetes and if it is uncontrolled or not, you select from the following 4 codes:

• 250.60 -- Diabetes with neurological manifestations, type II or unspecified type, not stated as uncontrolled
• 250.61 -- Diabetes with neurological manifestations, type I [juvenile type], not stated as uncontrolled
• 250.62 -- Diabetes with neurological manifestations, type II or unspecified type, uncontrolled
• 250.63 -- Diabetes with neurological manifestations, type I [juvenile type], uncontrolled

The instructions under code 250.6x direct you to use an additional code to identify manifestations. Both 337.1 (Peripheral autonomic neuropathy in disorders classified elsewhere) and 357.2 (Polyneuropathy in diabetes) are among the possible manifestations listed under the code 250.6x.

In this case, your physician has just mentioned ‘peripheral neuropathy’ which is not enough information to allow you to choose between the two codes. Therefore, follow up with the physician and clarify what peripheral neuropathic condition in specific the patient had.