Radiology Coding Alert

Documentation should highlight the extremity involved.Some of the changes ICD-10 will bring in 2013 are all about pinpointing anatomic location. You'll find this to be the case with the I70.21- range for native artery atherosclerosis with intermittent claudication. Here's how the switch to ICD-10 will change your coding.ICD-9-CM Code440.21, Atherosclerosis of the extremities with intermittent claudicationICD-10-CM CodesI70.211, Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, right legI70.212, Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, left legI70.213, Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, bilateral legsI70.218, Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, other extremityI70.219, Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, unspecified extremityAtherosclerosis refers to hardening and thickening of the arteries. Lack of blood to the muscles may cause claudication (pain or cramping). "Intermittent" indicates the pain comes and goes, typically resolving with rest. The reference to native arteries indicates a [...]