Wiki Coding diabetes with diabetic neuropathy

[shelle28]

I have a physician that when a patient has diabetes with diabetic neuropathy they use code E08.42. When I look up this code it tells me to code first the underlying condition that is causing the diabetes. There is nothing else in the note that suggests pt's diabetes is due to any underlying condition such as Cushing's, pancreatitis, etc. I feel that E11.40 is the appropriate code to use, but when ask my lead coder about it, she just says to use E08.42 because that code has been used for previous visits and insurance will question the diagnosis code change. Which is correct??

 

[sls314]

I have a physician that when a patient has diabetes with diabetic neuropathy they use code E08.42. When I look up this code it tells me to code first the underlying condition that is causing the diabetes. There is nothing else in the note that suggests pt's diabetes is due to any underlying condition such as Cushing's, pancreatitis, etc. I feel that E11.40 is the appropriate code to use, but when ask my lead coder about it, she just says to use E08.42 because that code has been used for previous visits and insurance will question the diagnosis code change. Which is correct??

It's scary that your lead coder would say "we've always done it wrong, so we need to keep doing it wrong in case someone questions why we started doing it right."

Yes, use the correct diagnosis code.

E11.4- if the patient has Type 2 diabetes. E10.4- if the patient has Type 1 diabetes.