AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2008 Issue 4; VOLUMES 1 AND 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Secondary Diabetes
Effective October 1, 2008, category 249 has been created to report secondary diabetes and its associated manifestations. Secondary diabetes is diabetes that occurs as a result of another disease or factor. Secondary diabetes is relatively uncommon. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) estimates that it accounts for 1 to 2 percent of all diabetes cases. Category 249 parallels the fourth digits of category 250, Diabetes mellitus, to identify associated manifestations or complications of secondary diabetes. There are two fifth-digits required with category 249 to indicate whether secondary diabetes is controlled or unspecified (â&euro...
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Article Overview
This article reviews the ICD-9-CM guidance for secondary diabetes and the related category structure added effective October 1, 2008. It is useful for coding professionals who need to understand how this topic is organized, what manifestation groupings are addressed, and where official guidance and sequencing references are cited. The article also discusses related endocrine, renal, ophthalmic, neurologic, circulatory, and other associated manifestations in a general coding-update context.
Why This Topic Matters
Secondary diabetes can require different classification and supporting documentation than primary diabetes. This article helps coders, auditors, and compliance staff understand the scope of the ICD-9-CM category and recognize when related guidance or companion codes may be referenced.
Article Sections
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Overview of secondary diabetes and category 249
Introduces secondary diabetes, its general prevalence context, and the ICD-9-CM category structure added for this topic. Also notes the relationship to the broader diabetes classification framework.
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Category structure, included conditions, and exclusions
Summarizes the category setup, fifth-digit reporting, and broad inclusion and exclusion concepts tied to this diagnosis group. References supporting official guidance and related coding resources are mentioned here.
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Subcategory listing for associated manifestations
Outlines the subcategory organization for secondary diabetes across complication groupings such as renal, ophthalmic, neurologic, circulatory, and other specified manifestations. The section presents the general structure of the tabular classification without detailing selection logic.
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Coding Clinic example on steroid-induced secondary diabetes
Presents a clinical coding question-and-answer example involving a secondary diabetes scenario and related companion coding references. The section illustrates how the issue is discussed in a coding education context.
What You Will Learn
- How secondary diabetes is organized within the ICD-9-CM category structure
- Which broad manifestation groupings are associated with the category
- What general exclusions and related references are mentioned
- How a coding education example is presented in the article
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Compliance professionals
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Revenue cycle staff
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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