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Pulmonology Coding Alert

ICD-9:

493.2x Can Be Confusing Without the Right Documentation

Published on Wed Sep 22, 2010

When does status asthmaticus supercede COPD? Find out. Your physician's notes may be your best bet when a patient presents to the pulmonologist with asthma or bronchitis, and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Having the right information ready before referring to your ICD-9 manual could also save you from trouble. How do you do that? First, make sure the documentation supports the physician's diagnosis. Then, be on the lookout for any associated acute conditions. When faced with the situation, asking these 3 vital questions can help you breathe easily through your lung diagnosis coding. 1. Do You See Any Sign of COPD-Associated Asthma? If a pulmonologist diagnosed a patient with both asthma and COPD, you should go to the 493.x section of ICD-9 and choose from the three options: 493.20 -- Chronic obstructive asthma; unspecified 493.21 -- Chronic obstructive asthma; with status asthmaticus 493.22 -- Chronic obstructive asthma; with (acute) exacerbation. [...]
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