Wiki Acute or chronic?

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If a diagnosis such as recurrent right maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis is listed but it doesn't say whether it is acute or chronic, how do you code it as acute or chronic?
 
Ok, look at it this way, chronic IS recurrent but recurrent isn't necessarily always chronic. However, if it is stated as recurrent, it's definitely not stated as acute. This is especially true for diagnoses whose default codes do not include acute, but rather have a seperate listings for the acute phases. I know that may sound confusing. Lol.

Maybe someone else will be able to come up with a more coherent explanation. I'm having a rough morning!

ANYWAY, since your dx is "recurrent right maxillary AND ethmoid sinusitis", I would go with code 473.8.

Hope this is of some assistance!
 
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