Burns Classified According to Extent of Body Surface Involved, 948

When should category 948, Burns classified according to the extent of body surface involved, be used as the principal diagnosis? Category 948 should only be used as the principal diagnosis when the site of the burn is not specified. The site of the burn should be sequenced first (940-947) when it is known. Category 948 would be used as a secondary code to describe the extent of body surface involved. In category 948, codes 948.0-948.9 provide the percentage range for the extent of body surface burned. The fifth-digit subclassification is used to indicate the percentage of total...

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AHA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This premium coding article reviews guidance tied to ICD-9-CM burn classification when the extent of body surface involved is part of the record. It is intended for coders and coding reviewers who need to understand where this category fits in the burn series, how the article frames percentage-based reporting, and what related references are mentioned for complications and historical Coding Clinic clarification.

Why This Topic Matters

Burn documentation can require selecting between related burn categories and capturing extent-of-involvement information consistently. This article helps users understand the scope of the guidance and the associated coding references without relying on the full premium text.

Article Sections

  1. Principal diagnosis use of category 948

    Explains the general context for when the extent-of-surface burn category is discussed in relation to burn site documentation and sequencing within the burn series.

  2. Percentage ranges and fifth-digit subclassification

    Covers the article’s discussion of percentage-based extent reporting and the related subclassification framework used in this category.

  3. Complications and related coding reference

    Addresses the article’s mention of burn-related complications and an additional infection-related coding reference, along with a cited Coding Clinic example.

What You Will Learn

  • How the article frames the use of an extent-of-body-surface burn category within the burn diagnosis series.
  • What general percentage-based information is associated with the category’s subclassification structure.
  • What related complication and historical coding references are mentioned in the article.
  • How the article situates this guidance for coding review and documentation interpretation.

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Coding auditors
  • Coding educators
  • Health information management professionals
  • Clinical documentation staff

Codes Discussed

  • ICD-9-CM: 948
  • ICD-9-CM: 940-947
  • ICD-9-CM: 948.0-948.9
  • ICD-9-CM: 948.40
  • ICD-9-CM: 948.52
  • ICD-9-CM: 958.3
  • ICD-9-CM: 946.3
  • ICD-9-CM: 946.2

Code Ranges Discussed

  • ICD-9-CM: 940-947
  • ICD-9-CM: 948.0-948.9

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