Neurosurgery Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Rely on Combo Code for This Lumbago/Sciatica Dx
Published on Wed Jan 04, 2023
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient suffers from right-sided lumbago and sciatica. What ICD-10 code(s) should I report? I was thinking M54.31and M54.50. Connecticut Subscriber Answer: You shouldn’t report either of the codes you mentioned for this patient’s diagnosis. Instead, report M54.41(Lumbago with sciatica, right side). The ICD-10 codes you chose — M54.31 (Sciatica, right side) and M54.50 (Low back pain, unspecified) — are technically accurate to report this patient’s condition. However, you should always choose a single diagnosis code when it can accurately portray what two (or more) codes can portray.
Related Articles
Other Articles in this issue of
Neurosurgery Coding Alert
- Surgery:
Know Code Family to Tackle Total Disc Arthroplasty
Here’s when you’ll need T codes to report these surgeries. When your surgeon performs a [...] - E/M 2023:
New Prolonged Service Codes Require Payer-Specific Smarts
CMS, CPT® still split on when you can code for extra time. In the last [...] - Clip & Save:
Consult This Chart to Select Codes
To avoid confusion over code choice for your Medicare and private payer patients, and to [...] - Testing:
Latency Length Matters on Evoked Potential Studies
Providers use test to check for MS, other neuro conditions. When your provider performs an [...] - You Be the Coder:
Halo Application for Thin Skull Osteology
Question: After a computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast materials and 3D rendering, the surgeon [...] - Reader Question:
Go Deeper Into Code Book for Fuller Spine X-rays
Question: The provider performs a single-view X-ray of the spine that includes the entire thoracic and [...] - Reader Question:
Complicated Headache Means These ICD-10 Codes
Question: What is complicated headache syndrome? How do I choose an ICD-10 code for the condition? [...] - Reader Question:
Get More Info for Concussion E/M
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed an office evaluation and management (E/M) service for [...] - Reader Question:
Rely on Combo Code for This Lumbago/Sciatica Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient suffers from right-sided lumbago and sciatica. What ICD-10 code(s) [...]
View All
