ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
You Be the Coder:
Scour Notes for Every Osteomyelitis Dx Detail
Published on Fri Aug 12, 2022
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the ED physician diagnosed acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in the patient’s hand. How should I report this diagnosis?
AAPC Forum Subscriber
Answer: The best ICD-10 code isn’t clear with the information provided.
Do this: Go back and check the notes for indications of laterality on the osteomyelitis. Then, choose one of the following diagnosis codes to include on your claim:
- M86.041 (Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, right hand)
- M86.042 (Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, left hand)
- M86.049 (Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, unspecified hand).
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