Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: A patient presented with a cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The patient is a construction worker who works on old buildings most of the time. After a physical examination, the pulmonologist ordered chest X-rays and reviewed the images. The physician diagnosed the patient with asbestosis.

How do I report the diagnosis?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: You’ll assign J61 (Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers) to report the physician’s diagnosis. Code J61 also features asbestosis as an additional synonym.

Search for Asbestosis (occupational) in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, where you’ll find J61. You’ll then turn to the Tabular List to verify the code.

Pneumoconiosis is a term to describe a lung disease caused by the patient inhaling mineral dust and the dust settling in the lungs. Asbestosis is a form of pneumoconiosis where the patient inhales asbestos. Remember, until the physician can confirm the diagnosis, you will use the ICD-10 code for the signs/symptoms as the reason for any associated services.