Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: I have a report for a patient who presented with a persistent dry cough and difficulty breathing. The pulmonologist performed a physical examination, documented the patient’s history, and ordered a computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient’s chest. The physician diagnosed the patient with idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis.

I can’t find this condition in my ICD-10-CM code set — should I just report the symptoms?

Minnesota Subscriber

Answer: No, you won’t assign codes based on the symptoms the patient presented with. Instead, you’ll assign J84.112 (Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) to report the physician’s diagnosis.

Here’s why: Below J84.112 in the ICD-10-CM code set are two additional conditions that can be documented but are reported with the code:

• Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis
• Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis

In the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, look for Alveolitis > fibrosing (cryptogenic) (idiopathic), which provides you with J84.112. You’ll then verify the code in the Tabular List.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition where the tissue deep within the lungs becomes scarred over time. When the lung tissue gets scarred, it gets stiff and thick, which can make it hard for the patient to catch their breath and may lead to insufficient blood oxygenation. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a diagnosis where the cause of the condition is undetermined.