Radiology Coding Alert

You needn’t confirm right and left side hemorrhage in ACA bleed.

It is October already, which means you have implemented the ICD-10 updates. One of the key updates for your radiology practice applies to cerebral hemorrhage and infarction. Is your practice current? Find out.

Eliminate Laterality in ACA Hemorrhage

An important update in ICD-10 codes was diagnosis coding for nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from anterior communicating artery.

Anatomy: The anterior communicating artery connects the two anterior cerebral arteries across the commencement of the longitudinal fissure in the base of the brain. This artery is a common site for nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

What is new? Laterality will no longer guide your diagnosis coding for nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from anterior communicating artery. ICD-10 updates for 2017 have deleted the following codes:

I60.20, Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from unspecified anterior communicating artery
I60.21, Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from right anterior communicating artery
I60.22, Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from left anterior communicating artery

New code: You now have a new code I60.2 (Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from anterior communicating artery) nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from anterior communicating artery.

Why the change? Many physicians find it challenging to document laterality in midline hemorrhages like the one from anterior communicating artery. The ICD-10 reform hence is a welcome change.

Specify Whether Thrombosis or Embolism is Cause in Cerebral Infarction

ICD-10 now has specific codes for infarction due to vaso-occlusive disease. The key to finding the right code is:

• Confirm the vessel which was occluded; and
• Find specific cause for occlusion, i.e. thrombosis or embolism.

You can find more about the ICD-10 changes at: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/2017-ICD-10-CM-and-GEMs.html.

 

 

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