Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: I'm confused by my allergist's notes. He said, "A history of asthma-induced bronchitis." Should I report an asthma code for the bronchitis? Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: You should list 466.0 (Acute bronchitis) as the primary -- and possibly only -- diagnosis because this best represents the acute condition being treated. Remember to avoid using an unspecified asthma code (493.9x, 493.x0). Red flag: Some insurers will deny unspecified asthma code 493.9x. Depending on the service you are reporting and whether the payer accepts the code, you may have to submit additional notes and ultimately have to select a specific code. Before filing the claim, get the information you need to avoid using an unspecified code. If you don't have access to the physician's notes, go back to the allergist for more information, if the documentation supports assigning an asthma code at all. If the allergist simply mentions that the patient has a history [...]