tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2024 Issue Q1

Reader Question: Know Specifics of Chickenpox for Optimal Code Selection

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the ED physician treated a patient with “cx pox w/o complication.” How do I choose a diagnosis code for this condition? I don’t see “chickenpox” in any ICD-10 descriptors. New Hampshire Subscriber Answer: You should report B01.9 (Varicella without complication) to represent the patient’s chickenpox. Varicella is another term for chickenpox, since the condition is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). While you’ll report B01.9 for chickenpox without complications, there are other varicella (or chickenpox) diagnosis codes that reflect complications or other conditions that accompany the...

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