Wiki severe COPD

[Trendale]

Hello,
I just started coding for a pulmonary intensivist, and noticed he states severe COPD often, I know the DX for just COPD is 496, since the physician documents SEVERE, does this change to another dx such as 491.21. Does severe take on the same meaning as acute? Should the physician be documenting acute rather than severe? Thanks!

 

[maudys]

if the physician doesn't state exacerbation, i wouldn't use it. I would query the physician to determine his interpretation of "severe" and discuss documentation needs.