Wiki Acute and Chronic conditions

lphillips

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Performing an Audit and see that provider diagnosed "recurrent sinusitis" and coder coded as "chronic sinusitis". It was my understanding that if the provider didn't state acute or chronic specifically that we as coders could not code it as such. Am I correct in my thinking? I can't find any supporting documentation to back it up. Can anyone help? Thanks, so much.:confused:
 
Agree with the definition, however a recurrent problem doesn't necessarily mean it is a chronic condition. How long do you have to have a recurrent problem for it to be considered chronic?

Coders do not diagnose patients, physicians do. We can query physicians.
 
There is no code for recurrent either.
Basically , when a condition recurs again and again, it is off the hook of "acute". That means the sinus has the persistent focus of inflammation there -which merits for chronicity. Some times, when the chronic condition which is quiescent suddenly erupts and shows up with all its severity, then there is a term used called "acute exacerbation". For (eg) in chronic Asthma, we call acute exacerbation (status Asthmaticus).
So, I agree with CMCGARY
 
Oops - boy did I state that wrong - it was tonsillitis

Oh my goodness! I'm sorry everyone - it was "recurrent tonsillitis'. I feel so silly now!

Correct scenario - provider documents "recurrent tonsillitis", coder coded 474.00. I say it should be 463 because provider didn't state chronic.

Thank you all so much for your earlier input. How about this one???
 
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