Advanced Search

Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

5th Digits Help Your ICD-9 Coding Specificity

Published on Thu Sep 02, 2004

Question: The ICD-9 codes identify asthma allergy with code 493.9, but we report 493.00 for asthma allergy and 493.90 for reactive airway disease. What is the difference between these codes?

North Dakota Subscriber

Answer: You should report 493.9x (Asthma, unspecified) for allergic asthma not otherwise specified (no specific antigen identified), and 493.0x (Extrinsic asthma) when the physician identifies a specific antigen (e.g., ragweed, platinum or other antigen) as the cause of the patient's asthma.

You should add a fifth digit depending on the activity of the asthma where "0" stands for unspecified (stable) status, "1" indicates status asthmaticus (acute severe asthma), and "2" represents acute exacerbation not causing acute severe asthma.

ICD-9 does not include a specific code for reactive airways disease because you should report 493.9 with a "0" fifth digit to indicate an unspecified asthmatic condition.

You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Pulmonology Coding Alert

View All