Cardiology Coding Alert

Hint: You can start using Q23.81 on Oct. 1.

The ICD-10-CM 2025 code additions, deletions, and revisions are out. The addendum will include several cardiology-specific codes, including those for cement and fat embolism of the pulmonary artery. You will also see several new Z codes.

Now is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with the new code list, which will take effect on October 1, 2024.

Observe New Pulmonary Artery Embolism Codes

You will also see several new codes involving embolisms of the pulmonary artery. For cement embolism of the pulmonary artery, take a look at these options.

• I26.03 (Cement embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale). This code will also receive a note to code first the complication of other arteries following a procedure (T81.718).
• I26.95 (Cement embolism of pulmonary artery without acute cor pulmonale). This code will also receive a note to code first complication of other arteries following a procedure (T81.718).

For fat embolisms of the pulmonary artery, you will see these codes:

• I26.04 (Fat embolism of pulmonary artery with acute cor pulmonale). This code will also receive a note to code first, if applicable: complication of other arteries following a procedure (T81.718) or traumatic fat embolism (T79.1).
• I26.96 (Fat embolism of pulmonary artery without acute cor pulmonale). This code will also add a note to code first, if applicable: complication of other arteries following a procedure (T81.718) or traumatic fat embolism (T79.1).

Don’t miss: Code I26.09 (Other pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale) will also include the diagnosis of other thrombotic pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale in 2025.

Code I26.99 (Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale) will also include other thrombotic pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale in 2025.

Notice New Coding Note for II6.1

Although you won’t see a change to the descriptor for I16.1 (Hypertensive emergency), you will see this new “Use Additional code” note: Use additional code, if applicable, to identify specific organ dysfunction, such as the following:

• Acute kidney injury (N17.-)
• Acute myocardial infarction (I21.-)
• Acute pulmonary edema (left and/or right ventricular failure) (J81.0, I50.-)
• Aortic dissection (I71.0-)
• Cerebral hemorrhage (I60.-. I61.-, I62.-)
• Cerebral infarction (I63.-)
• Eclampsia (O15.-)
• Hypertensive encephalopathy (I67.4)
• Seizure (R56.9)

Don’t Miss These Revisions to Embolism Codes

The following codes will also see revisions in 2025. (Underline indicates added material).

• I26.93 (Single subsegmental thrombotic pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale)
• I26.94 (Multiple subsegmental thrombotic pulmonary emboli without acute cor pulmonale)

As you can see, both of the above embolism codes will add “thrombotic pulmonary” to the code descriptors.

See New Congenital Codes

You will also gain new cardiology-related congenital codes next year. They include the following:

Q23.81 (Bicuspid aortic valve). This code will include the diagnosis of congenital bicuspid aortic valve and unicuspid (congenital) aortic valve (at birth). And you will gain this “code also” note: Code also, if applicable, acquired aortic valve disorders, such as: aortic (valve) insufficiency (nonrheumatic) (I35.1), aortic (valve) stenosis (nonrheumatic) (I35.0), or aortic (valve) stenosis with insufficiency (nonrheumatic) (I35.2).

• Q23.82 (Congenital mitral valve cleft leaflet). This code will also include cleft mitral valve leaflet at birth.
• Q23.88 (Other congenital malformations of aortic and mitral valves)

Explore New Z Codes

You will also see several new Z codes for 2025. For example, you will be able to report Z59.7 (Insufficient social insurance and welfare support). This code includes insufficient social and welfare insurance.

You will gain Z51.A (Encounter for sepsis aftercare), as well.

Although the following codes aren’t new, they will include more diagnoses:

• Z59.71 (Insufficient health insurance coverage) will include inadequate social insurance, insufficient social insurance, and no health insurance coverage
• Z59.72 (Insufficient welfare support) will add inadequate welfare support

“As coders, it’s important to be up to date on all the 2025 ICD-10-CM changes and understand what we need in the documentation to educate our providers as early as possible, says Robin Peterson, CPC, CPMA, senior consultant of compliance review, education, and training at Pinnacle Enterprise Risk Consulting Services in Centennial, Colorado. “It’s also important to start updating systems to ensure the new codes are available when coding, come October 1.”