tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2023 Issue Q3

Reader Questions: Look to Documentation for ‘Acute’ or ‘Chronic’ Designation

Question: How can I tell if a condition is “acute” or “chronic?” I’m confused about how to choose between these terms when selecting an ICD-10-CM code. Is there a specific time limit that distinguishes the two? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: Unfortunately, ICD-10-CM guidelines and other authoritative sources don’t provide a specific time limit that distinguishes the terms. In fact, there is a large degree of variation in the time a disease must be present for something to be referred to as chronic, so a definitive timeframe will depend on who you ask. Look at the...

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