AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2009 Issue 3; Ask the Editor
Multi-Lobar Pneumonia
A patient is diagnosed with "multilobar" pneumonia. I am aware that lobar pneumonia is assigned code 481, Pneumococcal pneumonia [Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia]. However, does the diagnostic statement "multilobar" pneumonia indicate that the patient has lobar pneumonia of more than one lobe of the lung and therefore also assigned code 481? ...
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Article Overview
This premium article is for coding professionals who need help interpreting pneumonia documentation that uses the term multilobar. It addresses the need to clarify the specific type of pneumonia and relates the discussion to diagnosis coding guidance for pneumonia cases where the organism is or is not identified.
Why This Topic Matters
Pneumonia documentation can be nonspecific, and the article explains why the wording in the medical record may require provider clarification before coding is finalized.
What You Will Learn
- How multilobar pneumonia documentation is approached in coding review
- Why provider clarification may be needed for pneumonia specificity
- How organism identification affects pneumonia code assignment at a high level
- What to look for when evaluating nonspecific pneumonia documentation
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
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