Cardiology Coding Alert

Coders in cardiology practices will have to become well-versed in the intricacies of congestive heart failure (CHF) now that the new codes are in effect.

You can start by familiarizing yourselves with the following information on CHF adapted from data available through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health:

• Cardiologist often use CHF to describe all patients with heart failure. In reality, congestion is just one feature of the condition and does not occur in all patients.
• There are two main categories of heart failure: systolic heart failure and diastolic heart failure.
• Systolic heart failure occurs when the heart's ability to contract decreases. The heart cannot pump with enough force to push a sufficient amount of blood into circulation. As a result, blood coming into the heart from the lungs may back up and cause fluid to leak into the lungs, causing a condition known as pulmonary congestion.
• Diastolic heart failure occurs when the heart cannot properly fill with blood because the muscle has become stiff, losing its ability to relax. This may lead to fluid accumulation, especially in the feet, ankles and legs.Editor's note: For more information, see the Web site www.nhlbi.nih.gov.