Wiki DMII with manifestation without the specific manifestation documented

[john maceachern]

The issue I'm having is when a MD states a person has diabetes with XX manifestation/complication and does not specify what that complication is, wouldn't it be inappropriate to code diabetes uncomplicated as the MD states there are complications/manifestations ie; Diabetes with renal complications 250.40 and does not list the additional code for the manifestation (guideline error) how does that "default" to 250.00? Also if MD does document and code correctly but only documents treatment towards the DM isn't he treating the manifestation as well because the DM and the manifestation are interelated (due to).
Thanks for any feedback you may have
John_Maceachern@tufts-health.com

 

[hewitt]

I know you are speaking generally here, but can you give a specific example?

 

[TracyAlder]

If the doctor says that the patient has diabetes with complications but doesn't say what the complications are, I would just use 250.9X "Diabetes with unspecified complication".