The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), two departments within the U.S. Federal Government’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provide the following guidelines for coding and reporting using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM). These guidelines should be used as a companion document to the official version of the ICD-10- CM.
These guidelines have been approved by the four organizations that make up the Cooperating Parties for the ICD-10-CM: the American Hospital Association (AHA), the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), CMS, and NCHS.
The diabetes mellitus codes are combination codes that include the type of diabetes mellitus, the body system affected, and the complications affecting that body system. As many codes within a particular category as are necessary to describe all of the complications of the disease may be used. They should be sequenced based on the reason for a particular encounter. Assign as many codes from categories E08 – E13 as needed to identify all of the associated conditions that the patient has.
Type of Diabetes
The age of a patient is not the sole determining factor, though most type 1 diabetics develop the condition before reaching puberty. For this reason, type 1 diabetes mellitus is also referred to as juvenile diabetes.
Type of Diabetes Mellitus Not Documented
If the type of diabetes mellitus is not documented in the medical record the default is E11.-, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes Mellitus and the Use of Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemics
If the documentation in a medical record does not indicate the type of diabetes but does indicate that the patient uses insulin, code E11-, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, should be assigned. An additional code should be assigned from category Z79 to identify the long-term (current) use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs. If the patient is treated with both oral medications and insulin, only the code for long-term (current) use of insulin should be assigned. Code Z79.4 should not be assigned if insulin is given temporarily to bring a type 2 patient’s blood sugar under control during an encounter.
Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes
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Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy:
Diabetes mellitus is a significant complicating factor in pregnancy. Pregnant women who are diabetic should be assigned a code from category O24, Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium, first, followed by the appropriate diabetes code(s) (E08- E13)
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Gestational (pregnancy-induced) diabetes:
Gestational (pregnancy-induced) diabetes can occur during the second and third trimester of pregnancy in women who were not diabetic prior to pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause complications in the pregnancy similar to those of pre-existing diabetes mellitus. It also puts the woman at greater risk of developing diabetes after pregnancy. Codes for gestational diabetes are in subcategory O24.4, Gestational diabetes mellitus. No other code from category O24, Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium should be used with a code from O24.4.
The codes under subcategory O24.4 include diet controlled, insulin controlled, and controlled by oral hypoglycemic drugs. If a patient with gestational diabetes is treated with both diet and insulin, only the code for insulin-controlled is required. If a patient with gestational diabetes is treated with both diet and oral hypoglycemic medications, only the code for “controlled by oral hypoglycemic drugs” is required. Code Z79.4, Long-term (current) use of insulin, or code Z79.84, Long-term (current) use of oral hypoglycemic drugs, should not be assigned with codes from subcategory O24.4.
Abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy is assigned a code from subcategory O99.81, Abnormal glucose complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium.
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Complications due to Insulin Pump Malfunction
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Underdose of insulin due to insulin pump failure:
An underdose of insulin due to an insulin pump failure should be assigned to a code from subcategory T85.6, Mechanical complication of other specified internal and external prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, that specifies the type of pump malfunction, as the principal or first-listed code, followed by code T38.3X6-, Underdosing of insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs. Additional codes for the type of diabetes mellitus and any associated complications due to the underdosing should also be assigned.
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Overdose of insulin due to insulin pump failure:
The principal or first-listed code for an encounter due to an insulin pump malfunction resulting in an overdose of insulin should also be T85.6-, Mechanical complication of other specified internal and external prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, followed by code T38.3X1-, Poisoning by insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, accidental (unintentional).
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Secondary Diabetes Mellitus
Codes under categories E08, Diabetes mellitus due to the underlying condition, E09, Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus, and E13, Other specified diabetes mellitus, identify complications/manifestations associated with secondary diabetes mellitus. Secondary diabetes is always caused by another condition or event (e.g., cystic fibrosis, malignant neoplasm of pancreas, pancreatectomy, adverse effect of the drug, or poisoning).
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Secondary diabetes mellitus and the use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs:
For patients with secondary diabetes mellitus who routinely use insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs, an additional code from category Z79 should be assigned to identify the long-term (current) use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs. If the patient is treated with both oral medications and insulin, only the code for long-term (current) use of insulin should be assigned. Code Z79.4 should not be assigned if insulin is given temporarily to bring a secondary diabetic patient’s blood sugar under control during an encounter.
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Assigning and sequencing secondary diabetes codes and their causes:
The sequencing of the secondary diabetes codes in relationship to codes for the cause of the diabetes is based on the Tabular List instructions for categories E08, E09, and E13.
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Secondary diabetes mellitus due to pancreatectomy:
- For post pancreatectomy diabetes mellitus (lack of insulin due to the surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas), assign code E89.1, Postprocedural hypoinsulinemia. Assign a code from category E13 and a code from subcategory Z90.41, Acquired absence of pancreas, as additional codes.
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Secondary diabetes due to drugs:
Secondary diabetes may be caused by an adverse effect of correctly administered medications, poisoning, or sequela of poisoning.
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Coding for Diabetes Mellitus in ICD 10 is a challenging task and constant updates make it more difficult. You need a certified coder with at least 3 years of experience in Diabetes coding to choose the correct ICD codes. Hiring such an expert can add a big overhead cost to your practice. To avoid this, you can take assistance from medical billing companies like Medical Billers and Coders (MBC) who has Diabetes coding experts. With our assistance, you don’t have to worry about using the exact Diabetes Mellitus in ICD 10 codes. To know more about our Diabetes Mellitus coding services you can contact us at 888-357-3226/info@medicalbillersandcoders.com
Reference:
ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2019
FAQs:
1. What are the main organizations involved in ICD-10-CM guidelines?
The main organizations are CMS, NCHS, AHA, and AHIMA, which collaborate to provide coding guidelines.
2. How should diabetes codes be assigned?
Use combination codes to specify the type of diabetes, affected body systems, and any complications, sequencing them based on the encounter reason.
3. What is the default code if the diabetes type is not documented?
If the type of diabetes is not mentioned, the default code to use is E11, which stands for Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
4. How is gestational diabetes coded?
For gestational diabetes, use code O24.4, and no other codes from category O24 should be assigned alongside it.
5. Why hire a certified coder for diabetes coding?
Diabetes coding can be complex and constantly changing, so hiring a certified coder ensures accuracy and compliance, reducing overhead costs in the long run.
