ICD 10 Coding Alert
Substitute ‘Post’ for ‘Long’ in This COVID Dx
Question: A patient presented with fatigue that affects their daily life, a lingering cough, difficulty breathing, and dizziness when they stand up. The patient stated they had COVID three months ago but are still experiencing these symptoms. The provider diagnosed the patient with long COVID. Is there an ICD-10-CM code for long COVID? Maryland Subscriber Answer: You’ll assign U09.9 (Post COVID-19 condition, unspecified) to report a long COVID diagnosis. According to the July 7, 2022, MLN Connects® newsletter, “For a post COVID-19 condition, unspecified, like Long COVID, use code DX U09.9” (www.cms.gov/outreach-and-educationoutreachffsprovpartprogprovider-partnership-email-archive/2022-07-07-mlnc#_Toc107993810). In the newsletter, Medicare also guides you to review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines on reporting COVID-19. The additional information doesn’t explicitly say “long COVID,” but section I.C.1.g.1.m, “Post COVID-19 Condition,” of the fiscal year (FY) 2023 guidelines instructs you to use one or more codes “for the specific symptom(s) or condition(s) related to the previous COVID-19 infection, if known” and U09.9. Reminder: You shouldn’t assign code U09.9 for symptoms of a current COVID-19 infection. In that case, you’d assign U07.1 (COVID-19) if the patient is diagnosed with the infection.
Related Articles
-min.webp)
ICD 10 Coding Alert
- Diagnosis Focus:
Never Again Get Lost While Coding Pharyngitis
Hint: Exposure to smoking may be relevant. Pharyngitis may seem like a cut-and-dry coding situation, [...] - Guidelines:
Use Sensitivity and Precision When Coding Abuse
Navigate contrary ICD-10-CM instructions with confidence. Encountering abuse can bring up a lot of feelings, [...] - Case Study:
Use These Markers to Distinguish ‘Diagnostic’ from ‘Screening’ for Drug Testing
Looking at the order can provide helpful context. If you work at a lab and [...] - Diagnosis Focus:
Remember These 3 Tips When Coding Kidney Stones
Look to the N20-N22 codes, but don’t forget to see whether N13.2 fits, too. Selecting [...] - You Be the Coder:
Order Matters When Coding Breathing Difficulty
Question: A patient with a history of asthma (controlled by medication) came in complaining of congestion, [...] - Reader Questions:
Substitute ‘Post’ for ‘Long’ in This COVID Dx
Question: A patient presented with fatigue that affects their daily life, a lingering cough, difficulty breathing, [...] - Reader Questions:
Define ‘Complicated’ for This Headache Syndrome
Question: What is complicated headache syndrome? How do I choose an ICD-10 code for the condition? [...] - Reader Questions:
Beware Vagueness Surrounding ‘Long-Term’
Question: I have always used three months or longer as the cut off to apply the [...]
