Wiki Hypertensive Retinopathy

chesmith

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My question is as follows:
If you have a patient with Hypertensive Retinopathy and you are using coding book 2017 ICD-10, do you code this with JUST "H35.03" as a combo code or do you code both "H35.03" and "I10"?

Under H35.0 is states "Code also any associated hypertension (I10.-)

There is some discrepancy among coders if we are suppose to be coding only 1 code or both codes.

Thank you in advance
Chesmith
 
Yes you code both codes.
An instructional note at a category or in this case the subcategory applies to all codes indented under it. So under H35.0 it states "Code also any associated hypertension (I10.-)
this means all codes that start with H35.0 must have the associated HTN code coded in addition.
In the coding guidelines under heading
5) Hypertensive Retinopathy
Subcategory H35.0, Background retinopathy and retinal vascular changes, should be used with a code from category I10 – I15, Hypertensive disease to include the systemic hypertension. The sequencing is based on the reason for the encounter.
 
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