Wiki New E&M guidelines

[jweigel]

With the new guidelines, can the diagnosis of anxiety with depression which has one code F41.8, be counted as 2 or more stable chronic illnesses? They are two illnesses being addressed.

 

[natashalage]

Hi. I am a new coder, so please don't take my input as a rule. I had similar situation 'alcoholic cirrhosis with ascites" that led to one code K70.31 and my educator counted this as 2 separate conditions: cirrhosis and ascites. And I agree because ' cirrhosis' can exists without 'ascites'. Same situation with your case- pt might have only "anxiety' without 'depression' or just a 'depression." I would count as 2 chronic illnesses.

 

[jweigel]

Thank you.