Basics of Anemia ICD 10 CM code

As per the 2023 updates Code D64.9 should be coded for Anemia ICD 10 CM as unspecified diagnosis. Anemia disease falls under the category of diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism.

The old code for ICD-9 CM Code (Transition) was : 285.9

Sequencing of Anemia ICD 10 CM codes

Sequencing of Anemia differs when the admission/encounter is for management of an anemia associated with the malignancy, and the treatment is only for anemia, the appropriate code for the malignancy is sequenced as the principal or first-listed diagnosis, followed by code D63.0, Anemia in neoplastic disease. When the admission/encounter is for management of an anemia associated with an adverse effect of the administration of chemotherapy or immunotherapy, and the only treatment is for the anemia, the anemia ICD 10 code is sequenced first, followed by the appropriate codes for the neoplasm and the adverse effect (T45.1×5-).

Anemia can be caused by chronic or acute blood loss, chronic disease, or the use of chemotherapy. Acute blood-loss anemia may occur after surgery or trauma.

The use of precise terminology is important in classifying anemias.

A variety of codes are associated with sickle-cell anemia.

It is important to distinguish between sickle-cell anemia and sickle-cell trait.

Other conditions classified as sickle-cell disorders include Hb-SS disease and sickle-cell thalassemia.

Coagulation defects are another type of disease of the blood.

They affect clotting time and ability.

Hypercoagulation is also a possible condition.

Diseases may decrease or increase the production of white blood cells (leukocytes). These diseases are classified according to whether the white blood cell count is low or elevated.

Related  Synonyms of Anemia ICD 10 CM

• Anemia
• Anemia chronic
• Anemia due to lead paint exposure
• Anemia due to medication
• Anemia due to radiation
• Anemia during pregnancy – baby not yet delivered
• Anemia in childbirth
• Anemia in mother complicating childbirth
• Anemia postpartum
• Anemia, due to another condition
• Anemia, due to medications
• Anemia, normocytic, normochromic
• Anemia, radiation
• Chronic anemia
• Maternal anemia in pregnancy, before birth
• Normocytic normochromic anemia
• Postpartum anemia (after childbirth)
• Secondary anemia

Applicable stages (or types)
There are more than 400 types of anemia, which are divided into three groupings:

• Anemia caused by blood loss
• Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
• Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells

Some examples of different types of anemia—each of which has its own unique cause—include the following:

• Anemia due to B12 deficiency
• Anemia due to folate deficiency
• Anemia due to iron deficiency
• Hemolytic anemia
• Hemolytic anemia due to G-6-PD deficiency
• Idiopathic aplastic anemia
• Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• Immune hemolytic anemia
• Megaloblastic anemia
• Pernicious anemia
• Secondary aplastic anemia
• Sickle cell anemia

Symptoms
Those with anemia may experience the following signs or symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness or light-headedness (especially when standing up or with exertion)
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Headaches
• Problems concentrating
• Shortness of breath (especially during exercise)

Treatment
Treatment should be directed at the cause of the anemia, and may include the following:

• Blood transfusions
• Corticosteroids or other medicines that suppress the immune system
• Erythropoietin, a medicine that helps bone marrow make more blood cells
• Supplements of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, or other vitamins and minerals

Documentation and coding for Anemia ICD 10 CM
Watch for documentation of the term “anemia.” Although not specific, finding the term is the one of the first steps to take. Then review carefully the clinical documentation, including the progress notes and physician orders. Review the laboratory findings, particularly the hemoglobin and hematocrit (Hgb/Hct) Review the physician’s orders for testing/monitoring or for procedures related to the condition of anemia. Review the blood values following a surgical procedure when coding a medical record in which surgery was performed. Look at the Hgb/Hct to see whether it has dropped significantly and whether monitoring is occurring. In the absence of documentation for anemia or acute blood loss anemia, query the physician for a specific diagnosis relating to this finding. A word of caution that Coding guidelines prohibit coders from coding from laboratory findings and values alone. 

Anemia ICD 10 CM  coding

• Nutritional anemias: Report a code from category D50.x–D53
  • Includes iron deficiency anemia secondary to chronic blood loss (D50.0)
• Hemolytic anemias: Report a code from category D55–D59
  • Includes sickle cell anemias (category D57)
• Aplastic and other anemias: Report a code from category D60–D64.
  • Includes anemia due to antineoplastic chemotherapy (D64.81)

Read also: Coding rules for Manifestation ICD-10 CM codes

Basic ICD-10 INFORMATION

World Health Organization (WHO) authorized the publication of the International Classification of DiseasesExternal 10th Revision (ICD-10), which was implemented for mortality coding and classification from death certificates in the U.S. in 1999. The U.S. developed a Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) for medical diagnoses based on WHO’s ICD-10.  This medical classification list is generated by the World Health Organization (WHO), and is used to help healthcare providers identify and code health conditions.

ICD-10 is required for use by physicians and healthcare providers under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) and will replace all ICD-9 code sets. There are nearly 5 times as many diagnosis codes in ICD-10-CM than in ICD-9-CM.ICD-10 has alphanumeric categories instead of numeric ones.