The CDC did not release any new codes to take effect April 1 this year, however you will find some noteworthy changes coming to the guidelines, including the addition of two new guidelines for obesity codes found under category E66 (Overweight and Obesity).
A guideline for “obesity” was added at 1.C.4.b to state:
- “The obesity codes in category E66, Overweight and obesity, include codes related to the cause of obesity, such as drug-induced obesity (E66.1), and codes related to effects of obesity, such as code E66.2, Morbid (severe) obesity with alveolar hypoventilation. There are other codes related to obesity in other categories of the classification, such as E88.82, Obesity due to disruption of MC4R pathway; and codes in fifth character subcategory O99.21, Obesity complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium.”
Additionally, a new guideline for “obesity class” was added at 1.C.4.b.1 to state:
- “The obesity class codes in subcategory E66.81, Obesity class, require a fifth character to convey the severity of obesity. The obesity class should be documented in the medical record by the provider for these codes to be assigned. The obesity class codes can be reported with other obesity codes in the classification found in Chapters 4 and 15 to fully describe the condition. However, if both class 3 obesity and morbid obesity are documented, only a code for class 3 obesity should be assigned as it is more specific."
Changes to COVID-19 guidelines
Some updates were also made to a few of the guidelines regarding COVID-19:
A guideline at 1.C.1.g.1.a for “Code only confirmed cases” was updated to state that confirmed cases of COVID-19 must be documented by the provider. The words “or documentation of a positive COVID-19 test result” are set to be removed and the guideline will now state:
“Code only a confirmed diagnosis of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as documented by the provider.”
Language under the guideline at 1.C.1.g.1.h for “Asymptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID-19” was also updated and will now state:
"For asymptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and there is no provider documentation of a diagnosis of COVID-19, query the provider as to whether or not the individual has COVID-19. A false positive laboratory test is possible, and it is the provider’s responsibility to confirm the diagnosis and document accordingly."