Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

H40.89 will cover many “other” conditions.

Starting Oct. 1, 2015, ophthalmology coders will find themselves with a few more specific options for coding specific glaucoma conditions – and fewer specific options for glaucoma associated with other conditions.

The ICD-9 codes in the 365.8x series will all expand to specify which eye is affected – right, left, both, or unspecified. For example, under ICD-9, you would report hypersecretion glaucoma with ICD-9 code 365.81, regardless of which eye was affected. However, under ICD-10, starting in October, you could report hypersecretion glaucoma in the left eye with H40.822.

However: There are currently several ICD-9 codes in the 365.4x series (Glaucoma associated with congenital anomalies dystrophies and systemic syndromes) that, under ICD-10, will all map to a single code: H40.80 (Other specified glaucoma).

Rationale: “The 365.4x, 365.63 and 365.89 ICD-9 codes currently encompass multiple problems that might be associated with a specific anatomical site vs an actual pathologic condition (365.81-365.83), so it makes sense to group this series under ‘specified glaucoma’ in ICD-10,” says Maggie M. Mac, CPC, CEMC, CHC, CMM, ICCE, AHIMA-approved ICD-10 CM/PCS trainer and president of Maggie Mac-Medical Practice Consulting in Clearwater, Fla.

Get ready: For more information on the ICD-10 conversion, as well as specific ICD-9 to ICD-10 code bridges, visit https://www.aapc.com/codes/.