Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: What is rhinitis medicamentosa, and what ICD-9 code should I bill for this condition?

New Hampshire Subscriber

Answer: Rhinitis medicamentosa is a condition of rebound nasal congestion brought on by extended use of topical decongestants (such as oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, and naphazoline nasal sprays).

These decongestants work by constricting blood vessels in the lining of the nose. For rhinitis medicamentosa, you should report 472.0 (Chronic rhinitis).