Coding “Toxic Metabolic Encephalopathy” – An Auditor’s Challenge and A Hospital’s Response

The coding and reporting of the diagnosis “toxic metabolic encephalopathy” (TME) has engendered much discussion over the years. The American Hospital Association “Coding Clinic” has issued advice on the correct coding and reporting of specific types and etiologies of “encephalopathy” beginning with the Fourth Quarter 2009 issue, pages 99-101. As always, we suggest that when […]

A new device character value for character 6, “F” for “subcutaneous defibrillator lead” (for the S-ICD system), was added to Tables 0JH (Insertion), 0JP (Removal) and 0JW (Revision), effective October 1, 2019. Although the subcutaneous implantable defibrillator (S-ICD) system, manufactured by Boston Scientific, was approved by the FDA in 2012, a device character value for […]

Section I.C.19 of the “Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting” (OCG) contains the guidelines for ICD-10-CM Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes. Of all the chapters in ICD-10-CM, Chapter 19 (S00-T88) contains the most codes with 87 new codes added for FY 2020. That brings the Chapter 19 total to […]