Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: Are all fatigue syndromes the same, for diagnosis purposes? For example, if a patient has chronic fatigue syndrome, is that the same as fatigue syndrome caused by something like COVID?

Answer: There is a general code for “other” fatigue syndromes in the G93.3- (Postviral and related fatigue syndromes) code set: G93.39 (Other post infection and related fatigue syndromes). There are also, however, specific codes for the conditions that you list in your question.

If a patient has a postviral fatigue syndrome — from COVID, for example — you’ll report G93.31 (Postviral fatigue syndrome). When a patient suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, select G93.32 (Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome).