Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
Look to the ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Sequencing Specifics
Question: A patient presents with a six-day history of a red, itchy, sticky right eye; lethargy; and a low-grade fever. They report no cough and no exposure to coronavirus, but on examination, the ophthalmologist notes atopic conjunctivitis and wheezing. They order a coronavirus test and prescribe antibiotic eyedrops, as well as Tylenol for the fever. The physician later learns the patient tested positive for COVID-19. Which ICD-10 code(s) apply and in what order? Georgia Subscriber Answer: Conjunctivitis has been reported as a rare symptom of the coronavirus, but that doesn’t mean you should code it as the primary diagnosis for a coronavirus patient. According to the ICD-10-CM guidelines, U07.1 (COVID-19) should always be the first-listed diagnosis code for patients with confirmed COVID-19, even if they also have an associated manifestation such as conjunctivitis. Since this is a confirmed case of COVID-19, your first diagnosis code should be U07.1. You should sequence the codes of any associated conditions second, so report H10.11 (Acute atopic conjunctivitis, right eye) as a secondary diagnosis.
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Look to the ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Sequencing Specifics
Question: A patient presents with a six-day history of a red, itchy, sticky right eye; lethargy; [...]
