AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2019 Quarter 1; Ask the Editor
Asthma, Emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A patient with emphysema presents due to asthma and COPD. When you reference asthma with COPD, the Index refers coding professionals to code J44.9 , Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified. However, COPD with emphysema is coded to J43.9 , Emphysema, unspecified, per Coding Clinic Fourth Quarter 2017. Category J44 , Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, includes asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, so we feel this code is a better reflection of the patient’s diagnosis. However, there is an Excludes1 note at J44 that prohibits the reporting of code J44.9 with J43.9 . How should we report asthma in a patient with COPD and emphysema? ...
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Article Overview
This article covers a coding question about how asthma, emphysema, and COPD are discussed in ICD-10-CM sources and Coding Clinic guidance. It is useful for coders, auditors, CDI professionals, and respiratory-related billers who need to understand the article’s scope and the general type of coding reference being examined. The discussion centers on how the article frames conflicting or overlapping diagnosis references and related category-level guidance.
Why This Topic Matters
Respiratory diagnoses are often documented together, and coding professionals need to understand how official references discuss the relationship among asthma, emphysema, and COPD. This article addresses that type of interpretive issue and points to why precise code-set interpretation matters in respiratory coding workflows.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames ICD-10-CM guidance for overlapping respiratory diagnoses
- What type of reference material is being discussed in relation to asthma, emphysema, and COPD
- Why category-level guidance and edit notes are relevant to this topic
- How the article approaches a respiratory coding interpretation question
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation integrity specialists
- Respiratory billing staff
- Healthcare reimbursement professionals
Codes Discussed
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