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Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Use 327.23 for Specified Organic Sleep Apnea

Published on Mon Jan 16, 2006

Question: What is organic sleep apnea? My physician has been using 780.57 to report sleep apnea, but ICD-9-CM revised 780.57 to say unspecified and added 327.23. Can you explain the difference to me?


Texas Subscriber
Answer: When your physician indicates "organic sleep apnea:" it means that he was able to identify a specific cause of the sleep apnea. For example, when the pulmonologist determines that excessive weight pressing on the patient's ribs and lungs is causing the sleep apnea, you would report 327.23 (Obstructive sleep apnea [adult] [pediatric]).

You would report unspecified sleep apnea (780.57) if your pulmonologist is unable to identify the cause of the apnea or he is still trying to determine the cause.

All of the 780 codes are "unspecified" meaning that you should use them when your physician doesn't give a specific cause for the condition. All the 327 codes, except 327.20 (Organic sleep apnea, unspecified), are "specified" causes of organic sleep apnea. 
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