Lysosomal storage disorders are a group of rare, inherited metabolic disorders caused by genetic mutations that affect the normal function of lysosomes, or the structures within cells that contain enzymes responsible for breaking down and recycling various substances, including fats, sugars, proteins, and other cellular materials. Review some of the major categories in which commonly encountered lysosomal storage disorders are classified. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register if you do not have a paid subscription.
CMS recently published the fiscal year 2027 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting to accompany the ICM-10-CM update, effective October 1. Coders should note the clarifications and revisions added to several areas of the guidelines, specifically as it relates to sepsis, cancer treatment, hypertension, genetic disorders, and Z codes.
Q: How should a coder handle the documentation and coding of a fragility fracture when the underlying cause, such as osteoporosis, has not been clearly established?
Hypertensive heart disease results from untreated or under-treated hypertension, causing a range of physiologic changes affecting the left atrium, left ventricle, and coronary arteries. Nancy Reading, BS, CPC, CPC-P, CPC-I, delves into the progression of hypertension to heart failure and shows how accurate code assignment and sequencing of the two conditions rely on the reason for admission and the relationships established among the patient’s conditions as documented by providers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing medical coding workflows. AI-assisted technology can help coding professionals work more efficiently. But there is an important distinction between identifying a possible code and determining whether that code should actually be reported.
Q: What clinical factors distinguish acute skin failure from a pressure injury, and how should the two conditions be approached from an ICD-10-CM coding perspective?
Identifying secondary diagnoses is an important part of accurately reflecting the patient’s overall condition and the care provided during an encounter. While the primary diagnosis represents the main reason for the patient’s visit or admission, secondary diagnoses capture additional conditions that require attention or have an impact on the patient’s care. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register if you do not have a paid subscription.
A TIA is typically a short-lived transient event that results in no permanent tissue damage or residual neurologic deficits. On the other hand, a stroke results from either a vessel blockage or a hemorrhage, causes some variety of tissue damage, and may leave residual neurologic deficits. Follow Nancy Reading, BS, CPC, CPC-P, CPC-I, as she explores the differences between these two conditions.
The fiscal year 2027 update to the ICD-10-CM code set includes new, deleted, and revised codes, as well as hundreds of changes to “Excludes” notes and “Code Also” indications. This code set was produced to show greater coding specificity by publishing codes with greater clinical specificity.
Less than one-half of adults discharged from emergency departments for diabetes-related encounters obtain outpatient follow-up care within 30 days, according to a recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Q: What are the key characteristics of cachexia versus ASPEN-defined malnutrition, and what ICD-10-CM codes are available for reporting each condition?
Understanding the clinical findings associated with quadriplegia is an important first step in determining how the condition should be reported. After reviewing the causes and effects of quadriplegia and reportable ICD-10-CM codes for the condition, this article will dive into key physical examination findings and documentation considerations that can help further guide accurate code selection. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register if you do not have a paid subscription.
Congenital heart defects are commonly encountered chronic conditions in pediatric coding and documentation, yet their presence alone does not ensure they are appropriately reported or fully understood within the clinical context of an encounter. Jenny Esper, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, tackles the challenges of determining when a CHD is relevant to the admission and whether the documentation accurately reflects its clinical significance for proper coding.
The new ICD-10-CM code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome improved clinical recognition of the condition, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Most veterans receiving Veterans Health Administration outpatient care for major depressive disorder are receiving their recommended treatment, but a growing proportion aren’t, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.
Thyroid disorders challenge outpatient hospital coders because the record often contains symptoms, laboratory values, medications, imaging findings, and surgical history before it contains a clear final diagnosis. Those clues can help a coder understand the encounter, but they do not authorize the coder to diagnose the patient.
A newly released Office of Inspector General report estimates that Medicare Advantage organizations may have received nearly $462 million in improper payments after submitting unsupported acute stroke diagnosis codes to CMS. The findings highlight ongoing concerns about documentation quality and diagnosis validation in risk adjustment reporting.
With insight from Lynette Byerly, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, coders can discover how CDI specialists bridge the clinical world to the realm of coding and reporting, especially when pediatric conditions are not always easily reportable.
