AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2007 Issue 4; VOLUMES 1 AND 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Dysphagia
Effective October 1 2007, code 787.2, Dysphagia, has been expanded to create separate codes to identify the distinct phases of dysphagia. Dysphagia, defined as difficulty swallowing, is usually symptomatic of an underlying condition and is more prevalent in aged patients. Neurogenic causes include Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis. Stroke, traumatic brain injury, tumor, and infection can cause dysphagia by affecting the cranial nerves involved in swallowing. Normal swallowing (deglutition) requires the healthy function of a variety of oral structures, muscles, and nerves and involves the transport of a food or...
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Article Overview
This article reviews dysphagia as a swallowing disorder, describes the major phases of swallowing, and explains a coding update effective October 1, 2007 that split a prior diagnosis code into more specific options. It is useful for coders, CDI staff, and clinicians who document swallowing impairment, especially when dysphagia is associated with neurologic conditions or other underlying causes. The article also includes a rehabilitation scenario involving a cerebrovascular event and discusses general assignment considerations tied to the updated diagnosis structure.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate documentation and code selection for dysphagia can affect diagnosis specificity, reporting of associated conditions, and reimbursement in settings where swallowing disorders are part of the clinical picture. This update is particularly relevant when records reference neurologic disease, post-stroke effects, or rehabilitation care.
Article Sections
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Clinical background on dysphagia
Defines dysphagia and reviews common clinical contexts in which swallowing difficulty may occur. Summarizes the broad anatomy and physiology involved in swallowing.
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Swallowing phases and related terminology
Describes the major stages of swallowing and distinguishes the phase-based terminology used in the article. Covers general functional concepts related to oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal involvement.
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Coding update effective October 1, 2007
Presents the diagnosis code update that introduced more specific options for dysphagia. Includes the broader symptom category and the newly added diagnosis options discussed in the article.
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Rehabilitation scenario
Provides an example involving a patient admitted for rehabilitation after a cerebrovascular event. The example illustrates how the article frames diagnosis assignment in a post-acute care setting.
What You Will Learn
- How dysphagia is described in the clinical context of swallowing disorders
- How the swallowing process is divided into phases for documentation purposes
- What changed in the 2007 diagnosis coding update for dysphagia
- How dysphagia may appear in a rehabilitation-related case discussion
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Billers
- Rehabilitation facility staff
- Clinicians documenting swallowing disorders
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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