AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2021 Issue 1; Ask the Editor
Medications Used on an As-Needed Basis
A patient diagnosed with asthma is currently on prescribed inhaled albuterol, “as needed” for control of symptoms. Since the medication is prescribed for long-term treatment of asthma, would it be appropriate to assign a code from category Z79, Long-term (current) drug therapy, even though the medication is taken pro re nata (PRN) to control symptoms of asthma? ...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This short coding guidance article explains the distinction between medications prescribed on an as-needed basis and long-term drug therapy classification in ICD-10-CM. It is relevant for coders, auditors, and clinical documentation staff who need to understand when a chronic therapy code category may or may not apply. The discussion is centered on a common medication-use scenario and the general coding principle involved.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate classification of medication use affects diagnosis code selection and documentation consistency. This topic helps avoid miscoding when a medication is prescribed for symptom relief on a PRN basis rather than as ongoing therapy.
What You Will Learn
- How PRN medication use is distinguished from long-term drug therapy in coding guidance.
- How a common asthma-related medication scenario is addressed at a high level.
- Which general ICD-10-CM category is discussed in relation to ongoing drug therapy.
- The kind of medication use that is not treated as long-term therapy.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Billing and reimbursement staff
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com