Hyperlipidemia Diagnosis

[misrael]

I have a provider asking it is okay to continue using diagnosis code E78.5 Hyperlipidemia, unspecified. Provider received a note from the nursing home stating that this code was no longer specific enough because it said "unspecified." Thanks

 

[thomas7331]

E78.5 is correct and appropriate if the type of hyperlipidemia is not known. If the provider knows the more specific type (e.g. hypercholesterolemia, hyperglyceridemia, mixed, etc.), then they should document that and choose the correct code that reflects that specificity.