2021 ICD-10-CM update: New guidelines revise COVID-19 instructions, advise on social factors

Why This Topic Matters

The 2021 guideline revisions affect multiple common reporting scenarios across inpatient and outpatient settings. Understanding the scope of these updates helps coding teams apply the current ICD-10-CM guidance consistently across COVID-19, chronic disease, perinatal, and observation-related cases.

Article Sections

1. COVID-19 guideline updates

   Covers revised ICD-10-CM guidance related to COVID-19 reporting in the 2021 official guidelines and the transition from temporary instructions to the new code year.

2. Social determinants of health

   Summarizes updates addressing social determinants of health and the circumstances under which related information may be documented for coding purposes.

3. Diabetes medication reporting

   Describes changes affecting long-term drug therapy reporting for patients using different diabetes treatment combinations.

4. Hypertension and kidney disease

   Reviews updated guidance for cases involving hypertensive chronic kidney disease and acute renal failure.

5. Vaping-related disorders

   Covers revised instructions for coding vaping-related encounters and associated manifestations under the respiratory system guidelines.

6. Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium

   Summarizes updated sequencing guidance for COVID-19 infection in pregnancy-related encounters.

7. Perinatal period and newborn guidance

   Addresses guidance for newborns with COVID-19 and related perinatal coding considerations.

8. Observation codes

   Explains the revised guidance on when observation codes may be reported in relation to a principal or first-listed diagnosis.