Radiology Coding Alert
Think Twice Before Coding Allergic Vasomotor Rhinitis
Question: How do I code a diagnosis of allergic vasomotor rhinitis? It seems like there’s a code for allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis, but no combination code. Texas Subscriber Answer: You will want to refer this question back to your provider for clarification. Technically speaking, vasomotor rhinitis is nonallergic. So, the provider has complicated the coding process by included two contradictory terms. Presumably, since the provider does document allergies, this diagnostic descriptor should take precedence over vasomotor. Assuming that you confirm with your provider that the rhinitis is, in fact, allergy-induced, your coding option would be J30.9 (Allergic rhinitis, unspecified). However, if there is further documentation explaining what external factors are causing the allergies, you should consider a more specific code. For example, if the provider documents food-induced allergic rhinitis, the correct code would be J30.5 (Allergic rhinitis due to food).
Related Articles
Radiology Coding Alert
- CPT® Coding:
Watch Out for Denials on Same-Day Screening, Diagnostic Mammograms
Incorporate payer-specific submission rules into your practice guidelines. Reports of various practices receiving denials for [...] - 2019 CPT® Changes:
Make Way 2019 Anticipated Radiology Code Changes
Look out for these important revisions, deletions, and bundling mandates. As is the annual expectation [...] - ICD-10 Coding:
Coding Clinic: Code this Posttraumatic Lipohemarthrosis of the Knee Example
Sometimes, the index yields surprising results. Every once in a while, you come across a [...] - You Be the Coder:
Assign Fracture Dx to Relevant Imaging Code, Only
Question: We have a patient who underwent a 3-view ankle X-ray for a left, displaced [...] - Reader Question:
Remember to Code Separately for PICC, Fluoroscopy Codes
Question: How do I code for a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) line placement [...] - Reader Question:
Think Twice Before Coding Allergic Vasomotor Rhinitis
Question: How do I code a diagnosis of allergic vasomotor rhinitis? It seems like there’s [...] - Reader Question:
Use these Tips to Discern Between Correct OM Codes
Question: Often, for ear infections, our radiologist will only document “OM, left ear” or “Right [...]
