Otolaryngology Coding Alert
You Be the Coder:
Remember the Difference Between Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Chronic Sinusitis
Published on Wed Jan 20, 2016
Question: One of our payers has a new FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery) policy that went into effect Jan. 1. The policy indicates that in order to meet medical necessity, “chronic rhinosinusitis with or without polyposis” must be present. Can you please help me find an ICD-10 code for this?
Idaho Subscriber
Answer: Remember that chronic rhinosinusitis is also known as chronic sinusitis. The diagnosis codes for this situation are J32.9 (Chronic sinusitis, unspecified) and J33.9 (Nasal polyp, unspecified). Report both diagnosis codes if the patient has chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis; report only J32.9 if nasal polyposis is not present.
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