Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

You won't be reporting this condition with F45.8 -- here's why.

Dysuria refers to difficulty or pain during urination. Currently, you report this condition with 788.1 (Dysuria), but this code expands into two options as of October 1, 2013:

• R30.0, Dysuria
• R30.9, Painful micturition, unspecified

Documentation tip: While not completely synonymous, the term dysuria can also be documented as 'strangury," a term that refers to difficulty in micturition, with straining to void; urine may be passed intermittently with pain and spasms. Either of these terms would be reported as R30.0. If the provider documents "painful urination NOS," then you should report R30.9.

Here is how you'll find this code in your Alphabetic Index:

Dysuria R30.0

• painful R30.9
• dysuria R30.0

Strangury R30.0

• frequent R35.0
• painful R30.9

Coder tips: Underneath the R30 category (Pain associated with micturition), you will find an Excludes1 note that forbids you from reporting any of these codes with psychogenic pain associated with micturition (F45.8).