Health Information Management

Q&A: Coding for influenza type A

HIM Connection, January 5, 2010

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM Connection!

Q: How should we code a diagnosis of influenza type A? Should we report ICD-9-CM code 487.1?
 
A: The correct ICD-9-CM code for a patient who has influenza with respiratory manifestations is 487.1. No other code is necessary because 487.1 includes manifestations of laryngitis, pharyngitis, or respiratory infection (upper) (acute).
 
However, when a physician documents influenza type A, coders should query to determine whether the patient has one of the following conditions:
  • Influenza due to identified avian influenza virus, which includes avian influenza, bird flu, and influenza A/H5N1 (ICD-9-CM code 488.0)
  • Influenza due to identified novel H1N1 influenza virus, which includes 2009 H1N1 (swine) influenza virus, novel 2009 influenza H1N1, novel H1N1 influenza, novel influenza A/H1N1, or swine flu (ICD-9-CM code 488.1)
Neither 488.0 nor 488.1 require an additional code.
 
Editor’s note: Sandra Sillman, RHIT, PAHM, DRG coordinator at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, answered this question in the January issue of Briefings on Coding Compliance.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM Connection!

Most Popular

Related Articles