Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Here’s why you should learn the new codes before the end of summer.

When the calendar flips to October, you’re going to have to get used to some new ICD-10 diagnosis codes. 

Why? The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its latest list of ICD-10 codes. The new codes will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2021, and be in effect until Oct. 1, 2022.

Check out this specialty-specific news on the new ICD-10 list, so you’ll need to be ready by the implementation date.

Check out the Numbers

According to the WHO, the new code book will have:

• 191 new ICD-10 codes,
• 27 revised ICD-10 codes, and
• 25 deleted codes.

Impact: For neurosurgery coders, there are nearly 40 new codes with which to get acquainted. There were no deletions or revisions of note for next year, so neurosurgery coders can focus on adding diagnoses to their coding arsenal — not on deleting or revising them.

Additions Include Cervicogenic Headache Code

Here’s a list of some of the ICD-10 2022 additions, along with analysis of how they might affect diagnosis coding in 2022:

• F32.A (Depression, unspecified)
• F78.A (Other genetic related intellectual disabilities)
• F78.A1 (SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability)
• F78.A9 (Other genetic related intellectual disability)
• G04.82 (Acute flaccid myelitis)
• G44.86 (Cervicogenic headache)

Analysis: The G44.86 code will allow you to code cervicogenic headache when the provider diagnoses it. Previously, you would have had to code cervicogenic headaches with a less specific code from the G44.8 (Other specified headache syndromes) code set.

• G92.0 (Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome)
• G92.00 (Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, grade unspecified)
• G92.01 (Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, grade 1)
• G92.02 (Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, grade 2)
• G92.03 (Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, grade 3)
• G92.04 (Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, grade 4)
• G92.05 (Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, grade 5)
• G92.8 (Other toxic encephalopathy)
• G92.9 (Unspecified toxic encephalopathy)

Analysis: This change explodes the G92 (Toxic encephalopathy) set from a single code to 10. Coding for patients with these conditions will be much more accurate in 2022.

M45 Code Set Expands Greatly

ICD-10 2022 will also add the following codes:

• M45.A (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis)
• M45.A0 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of unspecified sites in spine)
• M45.A1 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of occipito-atlanto-axial region)
• M45.A2 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of cervical region)
• M45.A3 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of cervicothoracic region)
• M45.A4 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of thoracic region)
• M45.A5 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of thoracolumbar region)
• M45.A6 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of lumbar region)
• M45.A7 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of lumbosacral region)
• M45.A8 (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of sacral and sacrococcygeal region)
• M45.AB (Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of multiple sites in spine)

Analysis: These additions almost double the coding options you’ll have for the M45 (Ankylosing spondylitis) code set.

• M54.50 (Low back pain, unspecified)
• M54.51 (Vertebrogenic low back pain)
• M54.59 (Other low back pain)

Analysis: This provides greater specificity for patients with low back pain; the 2021 ICD-10 code book only lists a single code under M54.5- (Low back pain).

• S06.A (Traumatic brain compression and herniation)
• S06.A0 (Traumatic brain compression without herniation)
• S06.A0XA (Traumatic brain compression without herniation, initial encounter)
• S06.A0XD (Traumatic brain compression without herniation, subsequent encounter)
• S06.A0XS (Traumatic brain compression without herniation, sequela)
• S06.A1 (Traumatic brain compression with herniation)
• S06.A1XA (Traumatic brain compression with herniation,initial encounter)
• S06.A1XD (Traumatic brain compression with herniation,subsequent encounter)
• S06.A1XS (Traumatic brain compression with herniation,sequela)

Analysis: These codes will almost double the S06.0 (Concussion) code set.