ICD-10-CM proposed changes: new cough, lumbago codes, no post-COVID

Providers will find 205 proposed ICD-10-CM code changes in the FY 2022 version of the code set, slated to take effect Oct. 1, 2021. The proposed updates include 153 new diagnosis codes, 22 revised codes and 30 invalidated codes.

The changes were issued in the proposed Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) payment rule for acute and long-term care hospitals, released April 27.

Changes include new codes for coughs, low back pain and cannabis poisoning.

Note one code that so far is not included in the changes: a new code for Post COVID-19 adopted by the World Health Organization earlier this year (U09.9). ICD-10-CM officials proposed last month to add the code Oct. 1 during the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting.

Check out additional highlights of the proposed code changes:

The list of new codes includes re-issues of the COVID-19 codes that were added in January this year, including J12.82, M35.81, M35.89, Z11.52, Z20.822 and Z86.16.
Chapter 13 accounts for 35 ICD-10-CM code changes, including an expansion of the category for Sjogren syndrome (M35.0-) and a new series of codes for non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (M45.A-). The diagnosis code for low back pain (M54.5) has been expanded to distinguish vertebrogenic low back pain (M54.51) from other types.
In numerous changes to Chapter 18, six new specific codes for coughs (R05) were added, including acute, subacute, chronic, cough syncope, other specified and unspecified. Additional codes were added for polyuria (R35.8), nonsuicidal self-harm (R45.88) and feeding difficulties (R63.3-) to distinguish pediatric feeding disorder.
The bulk of changes occurred in Chapter 19, including new codes for traumatic brain compression (S06.A-) and poisoning by cannabis (T40.71-) and synthetic cannabinoids (T40.72-).