A serious neurological disorder, encephalitis causes acute inflammation of the brain tissues. According to reports, the exact causes of the condition are not known in about 60 percent of cases. In certain cases, the condition can occur as the result of a direct brain infection from a virus, bacteria or fungus. Neurologists and other specialists treating encephalitis need to use the correct diagnosis codes to report the condition on claims. To ensure accurate clinical documentation, most neurologists rely on a neurology medical billing company.
Encephalitis can affect anyone. Mild cases often have no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, fatigue or weakness and pain and stiffness in the neck, muscles and joints – that usually resolve within a few weeks. The symptoms of severe cases may include:
• Seizures
• Problems with speech or hearing
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of sensation or being unable to move certain areas of the face or body
• Loss of consciousness, including coma
ICD-10 Codes for Encephalitis
While documenting diagnosis and treatment, neurologists must report the correct medical codes. Medical billing services can help physicians report the correct codes for billing purposes. The ICD-10 codes for encephalitis are -
• G04 Encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis
• G04.0 Acute disseminated encephalitis and encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
✓ G04.00 Acute disseminated encephalitis and encephalomyelitis, unspecified
✓ G04.01 Postinfectious acute disseminated encephalitis and encephalomyelitis (postinfectious ADEM)
✓ G04.02 Postimmunization acute disseminated encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis
• G04.1 Tropical spastic paraplegia
• G04.2 Bacterial meningoencephalitis and meningomyelitis, not elsewhere classified
• G04.3 Acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy
✓ G04.30 …… unspecified
✓ G04.31 Postinfectious acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy
✓ G04.32 Postimmunization acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy
✓ G04.39 Other acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy
• G04.8 Other encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis
✓ G04.81 Other encephalitis and encephalomyelitis
✓ G04.82 Acute flaccid myelitis
✓ G04.89 Other myelitis
• G04.9 Encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis, unspecified
✓ G04.90 Encephalitis and encephalomyelitis, unspecified
✓ G04.91 Myelitis, unspecified
• G05 Encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis in diseases classified elsewhere
• G05.3 Encephalitis and encephalomyelitis in diseases classified elsewhere
• G05.4 Myelitis in diseases classified elsewhere
Neurology medical billing and coding can be challenging. For accurate and timely medical billing and claims submission, providers can reach out to a professional medical billing company.