The FY2022 ICD-10-CM guidelines were released Monday, July 12, and include instructions for how to assign new code U09.9 (Post COVID-19 condition).
Guidelines for post COVID-19 condition can be found at I.C.1.g.1.m.
Beginning Oct. 1, when a patient shows signs of sequelae (late effects) of COVID-19 after the active infection has ended, you should code first the specific symptoms or sequelae, followed by code U09.9, according to new additions to the 2022 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, released by the CDC.
The guidelines advise that coders should:
- "Assign a code(s) for the specific symptom(s) or condition(s) related to the previous COVID-19 infection, if known, and code U09.9 (Post COVID-19 condition, unspecified). Code U09.9 should not be assigned for manifestations of an active (current) COVID-19 infection."
However, if the patient is battling a condition associated with a previous COVID infection and then develops a new active COVID-19 infection, assign code U09.9 in conjunction with code U07.1 (COVID-19). Don’t forget to also report specific conditions associated with both the previous and new acute COVID infections. The new guidelines state:
- "Code U09.9 may be assigned in conjunction with code U07.1 (COVID-19) to identify that the patient also has a condition(s) associated with a previous COVID-19 infection. Code(s) for the specific condition(s) associated with the previous COVID-19 infection and code(s) for manifestation(s) of the new active (current) COVID-19 infection should also be assigned."
The guidelines take effect Oct. 1, along with the finalized FY2022 code set.
For more detailed coverage, see future issues of DecisionHealth newsletters.