Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Question: Our practice sees more and more patients with health issues related to vaping and electronic cigarette use. We heard there’s a new diagnosis code coming out to deal with these kinds of conditions. Is that true and when will it be available?

Codify Subscriber

Answer: Yes, you are correct. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced a new ICD-10-CM code for vaping-related conditions will go into effect on April 1, 2020.

For any and all claims that involve a vaping-related condition beginning on or after April 1, 2020, you may report the following ICD-10-CM code:

• U07.0 (Vaping-related disorder).

Update: As of Feb. 18, the CDC confirms that 68 individuals have died from e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have casualties from e-cigarette use, a release on vaping indicates.

Though EVALI cases are on the decline after peaking in September 2019, the CDC warns providers to be aware of the dangers and advise patients accordingly. More than 2,807 individuals have been hospitalized due to EVALI as of Feb. 18, the release says.

Consider these top statistics on EVALI from the CDC:

• 66 percent of individuals presenting with lung issues are male.
• The age range is vast with patients as young as 13 years old and up to 85 years old.
• All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories have reported hospitalizations due to EVALI.