Medical coding for irritable bowel syndrome

Medical Coding for

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Accurate assessment and documentation of gun shot wounds helps physician and nurse to develop a comprehensive plan of care.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastro-intestinal disorder that affects the digestive system, particularly the large intestine. It is a serious condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, resulting in severe complications. Reports suggest that IBS affects about 45 million people in the United States. Women are almost twice as likely to develop this condition as men. Abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, constipation and excess gas are all typical symptoms of this disorder. Irritable bowel syndrome usually can be a life-long problem that is very frustrating to live with, and can cause significant distress and affect people's everyday lives.

There is no known cure for IBS. But, complementary health practices along with medications and counseling can often help control the symptoms.

Gastroenterologists or IBS specialists who interact with patients use a number of different medications as part of the treatment which help relieve abdominal cramping and constipation. Documenting this disorder requires correct coding of all prominent symptoms and the treatment provided. A clear understanding of this disease is crucial for the coding team to provide accurate medical coding services.

Let us take a look at the causes, risk factors, and diagnosis and documentation guidelines for this abdominal disorder, along with the associated ICD-10 codes.

What Causes IBS? IBS occurs more often in women than in men, and the onset occurs before the age of 35 years (in almost half of the cases). The exact causes of this disorder is unknown, but several factors appear to play a crucial role – •

Muscle contractions in the intestine

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Inflammation in the intestines

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Severe bacterial infections in your digestive tract

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Food intolerances or sensitivities

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•

Hormonal changes

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Changes in bacteria in the gut (microflora)

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Abnormalities in the digestive system

In addition, stress and a family history of IBS can also cause this chronic disorder.

Risk Factors Most people experience occasional signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. However, the risk factors of getting this condition can potentially increase for people who are – young, female, with a family history of IBS and with a mental health problem.

Diagnosis and Documentation of Bowel Syndrome There are no specific lab tests that can diagnose irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This condition is called a diagnosis of exclusion, which means a physician may first consider many other alternatives and then perform tests to rule out other medical problems. Physicians may evaluate patient medical history and conduct physical exam and other tests to rule out other conditions. For instance, if a patient has IBS with diarrhea, he/she will be tested for gluten intolerance (celiac disease). Several diagnostic imaging studies such as - flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, X-rays and CT scans may be recommended. In addition, laboratory tests such as lactose intolerance tests, upper endoscopy, stool tests and breath test for bacterial overgrowth will be conducted to test for infection or problems with your intestine.

Treatment for IBS mainly focuses on reducing symptoms and understanding risk factors so that people can live their life as normal as possible. Accurately diagnosing the condition and submitting proper clinical documentation helps in promoting error-free billing practices. Relying on the services of a www.outsourcestrategies.com

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professional medical coding company can ensure this. ICD-10 codes for diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome include •

K58 - Irritable bowel syndrome

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K58.0 - Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea

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K58.1 - Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

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K58.2 - Mixed irritable bowel syndrome

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K58.8 - Other irritable bowel syndrome

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K58.9 - Irritable bowel syndrome without diarrhea

As there is no known cure for IBS, the only option is to effectively manage the symptoms. Mild signs and symptoms can be often controlled by managing stress and by making changes in your diet and lifestyle habits.

Managing gastroenterology medical billing, collections and medical coding changes is much easier for gastroenterologists who partner with an experienced medical billing and coding service provider. This will help them to effectively meet their claim submission tasks and ensure optimal reimbursement.

Vitamin D Supplements May Ease Painful IBS Symptoms – Finds Study Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and functional disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is estimated that about 12 percent Americans get affected by this disorder and women are more likely to develop this condition than men. A new study has found that regular consumption of Vitamin D supplements could help reduce the painful symptoms of IBS as well as improve the quality of the patient’s life.

The study was conducted by the Department of Oncology and Metabolism at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom and the results were published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (January 25, 2018

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edition). The study conducted showed a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among IBS patients. Low Vitamin D status has already been associated with the risk of colorectal cancer and has been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease.

As part of the study, researchers assessed the possible benefits of Vitamin D supplements on IBS symptoms. It was found that the supplements may help reduce some of the prominent symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. On the other hand, it was also shown to have the maximum benefit on the quality of life in IBS patients.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a severely misunderstood condition which potentially impacts the quality of life of patients. There is no single known cause and likewise no single known cure for this disorder. The above study provides a new insight in to the possible ways of effectively managing the condition. The study findings indicate that IBS patients need to get their Vitamin D levels tested regularly and a large majority of them may benefit from consuming these supplements.

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