Red solo cup question

I am trying to find a code for alcohol withdrawal induced seizure. Can find one without convulsion. Do I code separately? If so how does this show there is any difference from "regular old seizure" and ETOH withdrawal seizure... or does it matter?

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

Comments

  • Would this be F10.239 and G40.501? Think I have it. Please respond if you will.

  • Correction G40.509.

  • Based upon Coding Clinic instructions referenced by Dr. Gold and the I-10 Coding Handbook guidance cited below, I would also assign R56.9 for the seizure.

    I-10 Coding Handbook: Epilepsy is a paroxysmal disorder of cerebral function characterized by recurrent seizures. Coders must not assume, however, that any diagnostic statement describing convulsions or seizures should be coded to epilepsy; these conditions also occur in a number of other diseases, such as brain tumor, cerebrovascular accident, alcoholism, electrolyte imbalance, and febrile conditions. Grand mal seizures, for example, can be due to causes other than epilepsy. Because a diagnosis of epilepsy can have serious legal and personal implications for the patient, such as the inability to obtain a driver’s license, a code for epilepsy must not be assigned unless the physician clearly identifies the condition as such in the diagnostic statement. When the diagnosis is stated only in terms of convulsion or seizure without any further identification of the cause, code R56.9, Unspecified convulsions, should be assigned. When the physician mentions a history of seizure in the workup but does not include any mention of seizures in the diagnostic statement, no code should be assigned unless clear documentation indicates that the criteria for reporting the condition have been met and the physician agrees that a code should be added. Please note that the classification assigns seizure disorder and recurrent seizures to epilepsy G40.909, whereas the main term “seizure(s)” is indexed to R56.9

    Thanks,
    Donna Fisher, CCS, CCDS, CHC
    fishdl@shands.ufl.edu

  • From rural Halifax,thank you Dr. Gold!


    Kim Williams, RN
    Clinical Documentation Specialist
    Halifax Regional
    Revenue Management Department
    kwilliams@halifaxrmc.org
    (252) 535-8154
    (252) 535-8937 fax


  • Thanks Donna

    Kim Williams, RN
    Clinical Documentation Specialist
    Halifax Regional
    Revenue Management Department
    kwilliams@halifaxrmc.org
    (252) 535-8154
    (252) 535-8937 fax







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