AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2007 Issue 4; V Code Update
Effects of Harmful Algal Bloom and Toxins
Effective October 1, 2007, a new E-code (E928.6) has been created to identify the effects of “red tide†and other harmful algae blooms. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has worked with the National Center for Environmental Health (Environmental Hazards and Health Effects Program) to be consistent with current knowledge. Algae are essential to marine and fresh-water ecosystems. Although most algae are not dangerous, in certain environmental conditions, harmful algal blooms (HABs) form when microscopic algae grow very rapidly. HABs can damage the environment, deplete oxygen and obstruct sunlight needed by plants...
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Article Overview
This article covers an ICD-9-CM E-code update tied to environmental exposure involving harmful algal blooms and related toxins. It provides background on harmful marine algae, cyanobacteria, and Pfiesteria, and explains the public-health rationale for a new code introduced effective October 1, 2007. It is useful for coders, compliance staff, clinical documentation teams, and anyone tracking environmental exposure coding changes.
Why This Topic Matters
Environmental exposure cases may be documented under broad symptom- or cause-related contexts, so understanding this coding update helps support accurate reporting and awareness of the situations the code is intended to capture.
Article Sections
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Background on harmful algal blooms and toxins
Introduces the environmental and public-health context for harmful algal blooms and related toxins. Summarizes the types of organisms and exposure settings discussed in the article.
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Coding update and effective date
Describes the code update associated with this topic and the stated effective date. Notes the related terminology and broad classification context referenced in the article.
What You Will Learn
- The general environmental health context for harmful algal blooms and related toxins
- That the article discusses a coding update tied to environmental exposure
- The kinds of exposure situations and organism categories addressed by the update
- The public-health organizations referenced in the update context
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Compliance professionals
- Clinical documentation staff
- Public health and environmental health readers
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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