Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: One of our providers ordered labs with hypercortisolemia as the supporting diagnosis. I didn’t find a diagnosis code for the condition. I considered Cushing Syndrome, but wasn’t sure if that was on the right track. Any suggestions?

Louisiana Subscriber

Answer: You’re looking in the right direction. The correct diagnosis is 255.0 (Cushing’s syndrome). As support, one of the examples given in ICD-9 is “overproduction of cortisol.”  

Definition: Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms often include upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs. Children with Cushing’s syndrome tend to be obese with slowed growth rates.