Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

Unless otherwise indicated, reader questions were answered by Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, CHCE, HCS-D, COS-C, consultant and principal of Selman-Holman & Associates in Denton, TX.

Question: We admitted a patient for therapy whose diagnosis is "Immobilization Syndrome." What is this, and how do we do code it?

Answer: The actual diagnosis here is probably "Immobility Syndrome," which is a paraplegic syndrome resulting in multiple joint contractures. The code to use for it is 728.3. (Other specific muscle disorders; immobility syndrome [paraplegic]).

This is a case mix diagnosis and will earn you 11 points, so double-check the diagnosis to ensure you're coding correctly.

Note: This code excludes arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (754.89) and stiff-man syndrome (333.91).