Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Look how many conditions the code will represent when ICD-10 goes into effect.Diagnosis coding is simple when the physician diagnoses acute laryngitis: If no obstruction is present, you assign 464.00 (Acute laryngitis; without mention of obstruction). The code applies to patients with several types of laryngitis, provided they don't experience blockages of the passageway:Edematous laryngitisHemophilus influenzae laryngitisPneumococcal laryngitisSeptic laryngitisSuppurative laryngitisUlcerative laryngitis.The code also applies to acute laryngitis not otherwise specified.ICD-10 change: Once ICD-10 goes into effect, you'll use code J04.0 (Acute laryngitis) to report acute laryngitis without obstruction. ICD-10 has a broader description of acute laryngitis that doesn't include the explanatory phrase "without obstruction" in the descriptor. Also, ICD-10 asks you to report an additional code (B95-B97) to identify the infectious agent responsible for the acute laryngitis.›››››››››››› Remember, until a test confirms a condition, you should use signs-and-symptoms diagnoses rather than the diagnosis code for the condition itself. Look to [...]