Arrhythmia is a cardiac condition that affects the rate or rhythm of heartbeat. The heart beats too quick, too slow, or in an irregular pattern. Major factors that can cause the condition include valve disorders, high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, any infection, coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, excessive alcohol or caffeine, use of certain medications or stress. Primary care doctors, cardiologists, electrophysiologists or any specialists treating heart arrhythmias can rely on comprehensive medical coding services provided by experts to manage claim filing efficiently.
Common symptoms of this condition include fast or slow heartbeat, weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, anxiety, blurred vision, and fainting. Diagnosis tests that may be recommended to confirm an irregular heartbeat and look for conditions that can cause arrhythmias include Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Echocardiogram, Holter monitor, Electrophysiological testing and mapping, MRI, and stress test.
Heart arrhythmia treatment may include medications, catheter procedures, ablation and therapy. Surgery may be recommended to correct this condition that can’t be controlled with medications or other non-surgical treatments.
ICD-10 Codes for Different Types of Arrhythmias
Heart arrhythmiais categorized by the speed of the heart rate. The two main types of arrhythmia are Tachycardia and Bradycardia. Tachycardiais too fast heart beat (more than 100 beats per minute) and Bradycardia is too slow heartbeat (less than 60 beats per minute).
- R00 Abnormalities of heartbeat
- R00.0 Tachycardia, unspecified
- R00.1 Bradycardia, unspecified
- R00.2 Palpitations
- R00.8 Other abnormalities of heart beat
- R00.9 Unspecified abnormalities of heart beat
Tachycardia types
Atrial fibrillation
This irregular and rapid heart rhythm can cause poor blood flow, stroke, blood clots in the heart, and even heart failure.
Atrial flutter
Here, the heartbeats are more organized and regular than atrial fibrillation. It can cause stroke. The condition can be paroxysmal or persistent.
Supraventricular tachycardia
Supraventricular tachycardia that starts above the ventricles refers to heartbeat that is abnormally fast. Factors such as age, thyroid issues, and congenital heart disease can increase the risk of this condition.
Ventricular fibrillation
With this condition, the heart fails to pump blood to the rest of the body and may cause sudden cardiac death. Common symptoms include loss of consciousness, chest pain, shortness of breath or nausea. It can even lead to a life-threatening emergency like a cardiac arrest.
Ventricular tachycardia
Caused by abnormal electrical signals in the ventricles, the condition can prevent the heart from pumping enough blood to the body and lungs.
Tachycardia Codes
- I47 Paroxysmal tachycardia
- I47.0 Re-entry ventricular arrhythmia
- I47.1 Supraventricular tachycardia
- I47.2 Ventricular tachycardia
- I47.9 Paroxysmal tachycardia, unspecified
- I48 Atrial fibrillation and flutter
- I48.0 Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- I48.1 Persistent atrial fibrillation
- I48.11 Longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation
- I48.19 Other persistent atrial fibrillation
- I48.2 Chronic atrial fibrillation
- I48.20 …… unspecified
- I48.21 Permanent atrial fibrillation
- I48.3 Typical atrial flutter
- I48.4 Atypical atrial flutter
- I48.9 Unspecified atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
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- I48.91 Unspecified atrial fibrillation
- I48.92 Unspecified atrial flutter
- I49 Other cardiac arrhythmias
- I49.0 Ventricular fibrillation and flutter
- I49.01 Ventricular fibrillation
- I49.02 Ventricular flutter
- I49.0 Ventricular fibrillation and flutter
Bradycardia types
Sick sinus syndrome
Referred to as sinus node dysfunction, the condition can occur due to any issues with the sinus node such as – too slow heartbeat rate, and sinus arrest or heartbeat stops.
Conduction block
Also referred to as atrioventricular (AV) conduction disturbances or blocks, it can cause the signals that trigger the heartbeats to slow down, irregular or stop.
Bradycardia codes
- I49.5 Sick sinus syndrome
- I49.8 Other specified cardiac arrhythmias
- I49.9 Cardiac arrhythmia, unspecified
Providers recommend adopting healthy lifestyle changes to prevent the risk for conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease, which can lead to arrhythmia. Other treatments mainly aim at managing any underlying condition, such as an electrolyte imbalance, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, or thyroid disease.
To ensure complete and accurate coding of the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmia on their medical claims, practices can take support from a professional cardiology medical billing company.
Experienced cardiology medical billing companies ensure clean claims and thus help practices to collect maximum reimbursement.
Holding a CPC certification from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), Natalie is a seasoned professional actively managing medical billing, medical coding, verification, and authorization services at OSI.