ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the physician treated a patient with “blepharoconjunctivitis R eye.” How is blepharoconjunctivitis different from conjunctivitis, and how do I choose a diagnosis code for this condition?

New York Subscriber

Answer: According to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, “blepharoconjunctivitis is the combining of a severe case of blepharitis and conjunctivitis. Blepharitis is an irritation and inflammation of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis is an irritation and inflammation of the conjunctiva.”

As for your ICD-10 code, you’re going to need some more information from the encounter in order to choose the most accurate diagnosis code.

Do this: Go back and check the notes for information on the specific type of blepharoconjunctivitis. Then, choose from the following codes:

• H10.511 (Ligneous conjunctivitis, right eye)
• H10.521 (Angular blepharoconjunctivitis, right eye)
• H10.532 (Contact blepharoconjunctivitis, left eye)

Last resort: If the notes don’t turn up the specific type of blepharoconjunctivitis, report H10.501 (Unspecified blepharoconjunctivitis, right eye).