AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2019 Quarter 4; New/Revised ICD-10-CM Codes
Subsegmental Pulmonary Embolism
New ICD-10-CM codes have been created to identify single subsegmental pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale ( I26.93 ) and multiple subsegmental pulmonary emboli without acute cor pulmonale ( I26.94 ) . An embolus is a blood clot that most commonly originates in the veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis). The blood clot can dislodge and travel as an embolus to other organs in the body, generally the lungs. A pulmonary embolism is a clot that lodges in the lungs, potentially blocking one or more of the pulmonary arteries and reducing blood flow to a region of...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article reviews updated ICD-10-CM reporting for subsegmental pulmonary embolism and discusses the clinical background that led to the new code creation. It is aimed at coders, CDI staff, and clinical teams who need to understand how this diagnosis is being distinguished for documentation, quality measurement, and research purposes. The article also references current guidance from a major professional society and places the update in the context of imaging-driven detection of smaller emboli.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate capture of subsegmental pulmonary embolism affects diagnosis reporting, hospital quality work, and studies of treatment patterns and outcomes. The article helps readers understand why this diagnosis now has more specific ICD-10-CM representation and why that distinction matters in modern practice.
What You Will Learn
- Why subsegmental pulmonary embolism is being distinguished more specifically in ICD-10-CM
- The clinical context behind increased detection of small pulmonary emboli
- How current professional guidance relates to isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism
- Why the coding update is relevant to quality measurement and research
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation integrity specialists
- Health information management professionals
- Hospital quality staff
- Clinical researchers
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com