Dermatology Coding Alert

Specify leg — and part of leg — with new diagnosis code set.

As is a recurring theme with most of the ICD-10 codes, when coders officially begin using the new diagnostic code set on Oct. 1, 2015, they will find increased specificity for varicose vein diagnoses.

Currently, ICD-9 has specific diagnosis codes describing varicose veins of lower extremities with ulcer, with inflammation, with ulcer and inflammation, and other complications. ICD-10 codes add to that specificity by having separate sets of codes for each leg, as well as for what part of the leg the veins appear on.

Example: The single ICD-9 code for varicose veins of lower extremities with ulcer is:

• 454.0 — Varicose veins of lower extremities with ulcer.

ICD-10 codes for the same condition are:

Unspecified leg:

• I83.001 — Varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity with ulcer of thigh
• I83.002 — … of calf
• I83.003 — … of ankle
• I83.004 — … of heel and midfoot
• I83.005 — … other part of foot
• I83.008 — … other part of lower leg
• I83.009— … unspecified site.

Right leg:

• I83.011 — Varicose veins of right lower extremity with ulcer of thigh
• I83.012 — … of calf
• I83.013 — … of ankle
• I83.014 — … of heel and midfoot
• I83.015 — … other part of foot
• I83.018 — … other part of lower leg
• I83.019 — …unspecified site.

Left leg:

• I83.021 — Varicose veins of left lower extremity with ulcer of thigh
• I83.022 — … of calf
• I83.023 — … of ankle
• I83.024 — … of heel and midfoot
• I83.025 — … other part of foot
• I83.028 — … other part of lower leg
• I83.029 — …unspecified site.

The other ICD-9 codes will map to similar groups of more-specific ICD-10 codes:

• ICD-9: 454.1 — Varicose veins of lower extremities with inflammation
• ICD-10: 
  

                  o I83.10 — Varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity with inflammation
                  o I83.11 — Varicose veins of right lower extremity with inflammation
                  o I83.12 — Varicose veins of left lower extremity with inflammation.

ICD-9: 454.2 — Varicose veins of lower extremities with ulcer and inflammation

ICD-10:

                o I83.20x — Varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity with both ulcer and inflammation
                o I83.21x — Varicose veins of right lower extremity with both ulcer and inflammation
                o I83.22x — Varicose veins of left lower extremity with both ulcer and inflammation.

ICD-9: 454.8 — Varicose veins of lower extremities with other complications 

ICD-10:

               o I83.81x — Varicose veins of lower extremities with pain
               o I83.89x — Varicose veins of lower extremities with other complications.

Tip: Visit https://www.aapc.com/codes/ for more ICD-9 to ICD-10 code mapping.