“Wound” and “ulcer” are 2 major categories of wounds from the ICD-10 coding perspective – the acute form is categorized as wound and the chronic form is categorized as ulcer. While wounds are caused by an external force, ulcers are the result of some internal issues....
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Malnutrition, Obesity and Body Mass Index (BMI): Coding Guidelines
Good nutrition is essential to prevent and manage diseases and to keep people live longer. Malnutrition is a condition that occurs when the body does not get enough nutrients. The World Health Organization defines malnutrition as the “deficiencies, excesses, or...
Reporting Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain – Know the Procedure Codes
A widely used treatment modality for managing different chronic pain stages, spinal cord stimulation delivers low-level electrical signals to the spinal cord or to specific nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain. Typically, implanted or placed under the...
Colorectal Cancer Coding – Focus on Screening Guidelines
Regarded as the third most common cancer diagnosed in the United States (as per American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates), colorectal cancer begins in the large intestine or colon – the final part of the digestive tract. Also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or...
ICD-10 Codes for Reporting Five Common Spring Sports Injuries
During the spring season, people are gearing up for a new series of sports. Whether their goal is to stay active or train or participate in a competitive sport, spring is the perfect time to get back in the swing of things. During the spring season, as temperatures...
Documenting and Coding Different Types of Wounds – A Detailed Overview
Wounds that damage the skin are of different types and include – abrasions, lacerations, scratches, rupture injuries, punctures, and penetrating wounds. They often occur due to accidents or falls (with sharp objects or tools). However, surgeries, stitches, sutures or...
ICD-10 Codes for Gastroenteritis, a Common Intestinal Infection
Regarded as the second most common illness in the United States, gastroenteritis is a condition that causes swelling and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract - the pathway responsible for digestion (that includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines)....
Documenting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with ICD-10 and CPT Codes
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) refers to the painful condition caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in the wrist and goes into the hand. The carpal tunnel protects the median nerve...
Documenting Neuroendocrine Tumors – An Overview of the ICD-10 Codes
Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are abnormal growths that begin in specialized cells called neuroendocrine cells. Neuroendocrine cells have traits similar to nerve cells and hormone-producing cells. These cells can occur anywhere in the body, but NETs are most often found...
Documenting Hemarthrosis with the Correct ICD-10 Codes
Hemarthrosis is a condition that occurs as a result of bleeding into a joint cavity. Blood vessels inside the joint are damaged and bleed. The blood then collects in the joint space. Joints, also called articulations, are the connections between two bones that allow...