Wiki Diabetic Coding

[01065679]

I have a question about coding diabetes.

I understand that you code with manifiestation/complications codes and then the underlying condition, but I am not fulling understanding the "underlying condition" part of it.

If you have a patient with T2DM complicated with ophthalmic manifestations but the ophthalmic manifestation is stated as visual disturbances or blurred vision, can you only code using the codes that is listed such as:
blindness (369.00-369.9)
cataract (366.41)
glaucoma (365.44)
macular edema (362.07)
retinal edema (362.07)
retinopathy (362.01-362.07)
Or would you use the code for visual disturbances 368.8

And what if they specify that the DM is complicated by CAD or HTN? Would you uses 250.80 along with 414.00 or 401.9 or just code it with 250.00 and the 414.00 or 401.9?

 

[mjb5019]

DM

If the diabetic opthalmic condition is stated as visual disturbance, then yes, that is what you code. You will have to query the provider to find out if when he says complicated by CAD if he specifically means due to. If so, then yes, you would use 250.8x with the 414.0x code.

And just an FYI for that darn peripheral angiopathy code 250.7X I had to find out which arteries were NOT considered peripheral, and they are noted as Not coronary, cerebral or aortic arch.