ICD-10 Codes to Report Two Common Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

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ICD-10 Codes to Report Two Common Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The article gives a detailed overview of two common inflammatory bowel diseases and their related ICD-10 codes.

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a specific term used to describe a group of intestinal disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The GI tract starts from the mouth to the anus and comprises organs that digest food, absorb nutrients and process waste products. Inflammation anywhere along the GI tract disrupts this normal process. Reports suggest that about 10-20 percent of people diagnosed with IBD have a family history of this condition. The exact cause of IBD is not known, but in most cases is the result of an improper immune response. Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms vary, depending on the type and severity of inflammation and the location of inflammation. Symptoms generally range from mild to severe and include – abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, fatigue, rectal bleeding and severe weight loss. The condition can be very painful, debilitating and if left untreated can lead to severe, lifethreatening complications like colon cancer, bowel obstruction, ulcers, fistulas, anal fissure and blood clots. Even though, IBD can cause some amount of discomfort, it is possible to prevent or manage the disease effectively and still live a healthy and active lifestyle. People can reduce the risk of developing IBD or prevent a relapse by - eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and quitting smoking. When it comes to diagnosing the symptoms and causes of IBD, gastroenterologists or other physicians can rely on experienced medical billing companies. Established billing companies will provide the services of skilled medical coding service providers who have extensive knowledge about the codes and related guidelines that helps in efficiently managing the claim submission processes.

Let’s take a look at the two common inflammatory bowel diseases and their applicable codes – Ulcerative Colitis (UC) – Regarded as a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis results in long term inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. It occurs when the lining of the large intestine (also called colon), rectum or both becomes inflamed.

The inflammation causes the bowel to empty its contents more frequently. As the specific cells on the surface of the lining of the bowel die, ulcers begin to form which in turn can result in bleeding and discharge of mucus and pus. Generally affecting people of all age groups, this condition is most commonly diagnosed in those in the age group of 15-35 years. The condition most commonly begins in the rectum and gradually spreads upwards and sometimes involves the entire colon.

In the initial stages, people with UC may not experience any specific symptoms or sometimes mild symptoms. However, in some cases symptoms can become severe. Some of the most common symptoms include – abdominal pain, bloody stools, rectal pain and bleeding, diarrhea, weight loss and malnutrition. If left untreated, the condition can lead to severe complications like - bleeding and dehydration, a hole in the colon, liver disease, bone loss (osteoporosis) and inflammation of your skin, joints and eyes. Treatment modalities for this condition generally involve drug therapy and surgery. Anti-

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inflammatory drugs help reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system that starts the inflammation. Surgery to remove the colon will be considered as an option if medications alone cannot help control the symptoms. Surgical option will be considered only when there is massive bleeding, perforation of the colon or severe blockage. ICD – 10 codes for diagnosing Ulcerative Colitis include –  

K51 - Ulcerative colitis K51.0 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis  K51.00 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis, without complications  K51.01 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with complications  K51.011 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with rectal bleeding  K51.012 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with intestinal obstruction  K51.013 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with fistula  K51.014 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with abscess  K51.018 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with other complication  K51.019 - Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with unspecified complications  K51.2 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis  K51.20 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis, without complications  K51.21 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with complications  K51.211 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with rectal bleeding  K51.212 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with intestinal obstruction  K51.213 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with fistula  K51.214 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with abscess  K51.218 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with other complication  K51.219 - Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with unspecified complications  K51.3 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis  K51.30 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis, without complications  K51.31 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with complications  K51.311 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with rectal bleeding  K51.312 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with intestinal obstruction  K51.313 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with fistula  K51.314 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with abscess  K51.318 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with other complication  K51.319 - Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with unspecified complications  K51.5 - Left sided colitis  K51.50 - Left sided colitis, without complications  K51.51 - Left sided colitis with complications  K51.511 - Left sided colitis with rectal bleeding  K51.512 - Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction

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 K51.513 - Left sided colitis with fistula  K51.514 - Left sided colitis with abscess  K51.518 - Left sided colitis with other complication  K51.519 - Left sided colitis with unspecified complications  K51.8 - Other ulcerative colitis  K51.80 - Other ulcerative colitis, without complications  K51.81 - Other ulcerative colitis with complications  K51.811 - Other ulcerative colitis with rectal bleeding  K51.812 - Other ulcerative colitis with intestinal obstruction  K51.813 - Other ulcerative colitis with fistula  K51.814 - Other ulcerative colitis with abscess  K51.818 - Other ulcerative colitis with other complication  K51.819 - Other ulcerative colitis with unspecified complications  K51.9 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified  K51.90 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified, without complications  K51.91 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified, with complications  K51.911 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with rectal bleeding  K51.912 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with intestinal obstruction  K51.913 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with fistula  K51.914 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with abscess  K51.918 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with other complication  K51.919 - Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with unspecified complications Crohn's disease – This is a chronic, long-term disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract causing abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Also called ileitis or enteritis, the condition can affect any part of the gut, from the mouth all the way down to the anus. In most cases, the condition affects the lower part of the small intestine – “ileum”. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that, Crohn’s disease affects 26-199 people per 100,000 (2019 statistics). Although the condition can start at any age, it usually starts between the age group of 15-40 years.

Symptoms can be subtle and mild or severe and obvious. If the inflammation spreads deep into the tissues, it can even result in perforation of the intestine. Signs and symptoms of this condition may depend and vary on which part of the gut is affected. Typical symptoms include – pain, altered appetite, anemia, fatigue, ulcers in the gut, rectal bleeding and anal fissures and weight loss. There is no specific cure for Crohn’s disease, but certain treatments can help reduce the disease reoccurrences. Treatment modalities include – medication, surgery and nutritional supplements. Medications include – anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics and anti-diarrheal and fluid replacements. In most cases,

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Crohn’s disease patients undergo surgery at some point. Surgery may help reduce symptoms that do not respond to medications or to correct other severe complications like – blockage, abscess and bleeding. Even though Crohn’s is a chronic disease, controlling symptoms can help people lead a normal life. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent serious complications. Related ICD-10 codes include –  

K50 - Crohn's disease [regional enteritis] K50.0 - Crohn's disease of small intestine  K50.00 - Crohn's disease of small intestine, without complications  K50.01 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with complications  K50.011 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with rectal bleeding  K50.012 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with intestinal obstruction  K50.013 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with fistula  K50.014 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with abscess  K50.018 -Crohn's disease of small intestine with other complication  K50.019 - Crohn's disease of small intestine with unspecified complications  K50.1 - Crohn's disease of large intestine  K50.10 -Crohn's disease of large intestine, without complications  K50.11 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with complications  K50.111 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with rectal bleeding  K50.112 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with intestinal obstruction  K50.113 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with fistula  K50.114 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with abscess  K50.118 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with other complication  K50.119 - Crohn's disease of large intestine with unspecified complications  K50.8 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine  K50.80 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine, without complications  K50.81 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with complications  K50.811 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with rectal bleeding  K50.812 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with intestinal obstruction  K50.813 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with fistula  K50.814 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with abscess  K50.818 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with other complication  K50.819 - Crohn's disease of both small and large intestine with unspecified complications  K50.9 Crohn's disease, unspecified

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K50.90 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, without complications K50.91 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with complications  K50.911 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with rectal bleeding  K50.912 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with intestinal obstruction  K50.913 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with fistula  K50.914 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with abscess  K50.918 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with other complication  K50.919 - Crohn's disease, unspecified, with unspecified complications

Medical billing and coding for inflammatory bowel diseases can be challenging. Healthcare providers need to be well-informed about the specific ICD-10 codes to report these two common inflammatory bowel diseases. Relying on the services of a reputable medical billing and coding company can help physicians with accurate claim submission for optimal reimbursement.

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