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Primary Care Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Use 250.8x to Represent Diabetic Hypoglycemia

Published on Wed Jun 13, 2007

Question: Our physician saw a hypoglycemic patient, but we aren't sure which hypoglycemia code applies. Do you have any advice on selecting an ICD-9 code?

Nevada Subscriber


Answer: If the patient has diabetic hypoglycemia, you should report 250.8x (Diabetic hypoglycemia).

If not, you should probably select one of the following codes, based on the physician's documentation:

 - 250.3x -- Diabetes with other coma (diabetic hypoglycemic coma)

 - 251.0 -- Hypoglycemic coma

 - 251.1 -- Other specified hypoglycemia 

 - 251.2 -- Hypoglycemia, unspecified.

 - 579.3 -- Other and unspecified postsurgical nonabsorption

 - 775.6 -- Neonatal hypoglycemia.
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