AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2019 Issue 4; New/Revised ICD-10-CM Codes
Pyuria
Subcategory R82.8, Abnormal findings on cytological and histological examination of urine, was expanded, and two codes were created to uniquely capture pyuria and other abnormal findings on cytological and histological examination of urine as follows: R82.81 Pyuria R82.89 Other abnormal findings on cytological and histological examination of urine Pyuria is a laboratory finding of white blood cells in the urine and most commonly occurs in urinary tract infections. Other diseases and conditions that can cause pyuria include inflammation, kidney stones, tumors in the urinary tract, certain autoimmune disease, and pneumonia. Sterile pyuria is the finding of...
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Article Overview
This article discusses an ICD-10-CM update affecting urine-related abnormal findings, with emphasis on pyuria and the distinction between pyuria and urinary tract infection in documentation. It is intended for coders, billers, CDI staff, and other revenue cycle professionals who need to understand urinary laboratory findings, diagnosis reporting, and the impact of code updates on documentation review.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate reporting of urine-related laboratory findings depends on recognizing when documentation supports a distinct finding rather than a broader infectious diagnosis. The article helps readers understand a coding change that affects how pyuria is captured in ICD-10-CM and why this matters for compliant record abstraction and claims support.
Article Sections
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ICD-10-CM subcategory update
Introduces the ICD-10-CM subcategory change and the broader group of abnormal urine findings addressed by the update.
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Clinical background and prior indexing context
Summarizes the laboratory and clinical context associated with pyuria and notes the prior relationship to urinary tract infection documentation.
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Coding question and answer
Presents a documentation scenario and the resulting coding guidance for reporting pyuria without a urinary tract infection.
What You Will Learn
- The scope of the ICD-10-CM update involving abnormal urine findings
- The clinical context in which pyuria may be documented
- How the article frames the distinction between pyuria and urinary tract infection in coding guidance
- How documentation scenarios are translated into diagnosis reporting questions
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- CDI specialists
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Coding educators
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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