AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2020 Issue 1; Ask the Editor
Intermittent Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
A patient with a past medical history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is admitted and placed on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at night and as needed during the day. During the admission, the patient was placed on CPAP overnight for three nights and once during the day. What is the correct ICD-10-PCS code for patients who are placed on CPAP intermittently throughout the admission? Would an ICD-10-PCS code for “Assistance with respiratory ventilation” be assigned each time the patient is placed on noninvasive CPAP during the admission? ...
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Article Overview
This article explains a coding question involving intermittent continuous positive airway pressure use during a hospital stay. It is aimed at inpatient coders and auditors working with ICD-10-PCS respiratory support documentation, and it covers how the admission-level documentation is interpreted for code assignment.
Why This Topic Matters
Intermittent respiratory support during an admission can create uncertainty about whether one code or multiple codes apply. Understanding the article helps coding professionals align documentation with ICD-10-PCS assignment for noninvasive respiratory assistance.
What You Will Learn
- How intermittent CPAP use during an admission is addressed in ICD-10-PCS.
- How admission-level respiratory support documentation is evaluated for coding purposes.
- What type of respiratory support scenario the article focuses on.
- How the article frames repeated noninvasive ventilation support during a stay.
Who Should Read This
- Inpatient medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation improvement professionals
- Health information management staff
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