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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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