Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: How do I code allergic vasomotor rhinitis? It seems like there’s a code for allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis, but no combination code.

Texas Subscriber

Answer: You will want to refer this question back to your provider for clarification. Technically speaking, vasomotor rhinitis is nonallergic. So, the provider has complicated the coding process by including two contradictory terms. Presumably, since the provider does document allergies, this diagnostic descriptor should take precedence over vasomotor.

Assuming that you confirm with your provider that the rhinitis is, in fact, allergy-induced, your coding option would be J30.9 (Allergic rhinitis, unspecified). However, if there is further documentation explaining what external factors are causing the allergies, you should consider a more specific code. For example, if the provider documents food-induced allergic rhinitis, the correct code would be J30.5 (Allergic rhinitis due to food).