Coding for Clostridium difficile (September 2010)

September 2010 page 8 Coding for Clostridium difficile Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection is a major public health issue among hospitalized and long-term care patients with irritable bowel or ulcerative colitis, and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and higher resource utilization, prompting the need for better preventative measures and early detection. Although most studies of C. difficile have focused on patients in acute care settings, C. difficile is also prevalent in other at-risk populations, such as patients residing in long-term care facilities. Recently, C. difficile has also been identified as a source of community-associated diarrhea. Patients suspected...

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This article discusses Clostridium difficile infection in clinical and laboratory settings and focuses on the CPT coding update introduced in 2010 for related molecular detection testing. It is intended for coders, laboratory staff, and others who need to understand the scope of the testing, the clinical context in which it is used, and the general type of procedure guidance presented in the article.

Why This Topic Matters

Clostridium difficile testing is a common laboratory coding topic because it is tied to infection control, symptomatic patient evaluation, and evolving molecular diagnostic methods. Understanding the article helps readers determine whether the discussed CPT guidance applies to their laboratory workflow and documentation needs.

Article Sections

  1. Coding for Clostridium difficile

    Overview of the infection, its clinical relevance, and the laboratory testing context addressed by the article. The section introduces the coding update and the broader diagnostic setting.

  2. Clinical Example (Code 87493)

    A sample patient scenario illustrating the kind of laboratory testing discussed in the article. The example is paired with a procedure description that outlines the workflow at a high level.

  3. Description of Procedure

    High-level laboratory procedure narrative describing the specimen handling and molecular testing process associated with the article’s coding topic. The section provides workflow context without replacing the source guidance.

What You Will Learn

  • The clinical context surrounding Clostridium difficile testing
  • How the article frames the 2010 CPT update for related molecular detection testing
  • The general laboratory workflow context discussed for this type of test
  • The kinds of settings and patient populations referenced in connection with the testing topic

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Laboratory billing staff
  • Pathology and microbiology practices
  • Compliance and reimbursement teams
  • Clinical laboratory personnel

Codes Discussed


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