Advanced Search

Pulmonology Coding Alert

Diagnosis Coding:

Prevail From The Challenges of Billing Histoplasmosis

Published on Sat Mar 12, 2011

Overlooking symptoms could earn you $223 or nothing.Most patients who are infected with histoplasmosis will never show any ill effects, but will show signs of the disease. As a result, the coding process could give you a run for your money if the provider doesn't document the correct respiratory symptoms, and pick out the right E/M codes.Background: Histoplasmosis (115.xx) is caused by breathing in spores from a fungus found in bat or bird droppings. This fungus -- when airborne -- are inhaled or breathed into a person's lung. Although the main area affected is usually the lungs, sometimes other organs get infected. When there are other organs infected, this disease becomes disseminated histoplasmosis (i.e., 115.01, Histoplasma capsulatum meningitis, and 115.02, Histoplasma capsulatum retinitis).The following scenario will take you on a step-by-step study in reporting histoplasmosis and its treatment:A 66-year-old man presents to the pulmonologist for evaluation of chronic dry cough, muscle pain [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Pulmonology Coding Alert

View All