Coding Spotlight: Musculoskeletal System & Connective Tissue

Global Healthcare Resource’s General Manager of Coding Quality, Viba Raghavendran (CPC) and General Manager of Coding Operations Sivashankari Thangavelu (CPC,BCHHC,RCC & CCS) share helpful rule reminders and coding information for specific medical conditions.

Reimbursements & Research

To revenue cycle professionals, ICD-10 codes are the universal language between providers and payers to communicate appropriate reimbursements. While this is accurate, ICD-10 codes (and their continuous updates) also provide researchers with higher levels of clinical detail that aid in improvements to treatment and technology. This data has further impact on healthcare policy, treatment recommendations and resource allocation.

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This year brings several ICD-10 changes; however, we will be focusing on Chapter 13: Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue.

Chapter 13: Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue

Chapter 13 has several updates this year including twelve new codes to capture other pathological fractures (M80.8AX– and M80.0AX-). Updates include an expanded list of codes for rheumatoid arthritis, as well as primary and secondary arthritis and arthritis caused by trauma. New codes in the M24 category for other articular cartilage disorders, disorders of ligament, pathological dislocation, recurrent dislocation, contracture and ankylosis.

In Chapter 13, all the categories below have new codes with “other specified site” in the descriptor.

Code Changes

• New: M05.7A – Rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of other specified sitewithout organ or systems involvement
• New: M05.8A – Other rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of other specified site

• New: M06.0A – Rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor, other specified site
• New: M06.8A – Other specified rheumatoid arthritis, other specified site

• New: M08.0A – Unspecified juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, other specified site
• New: M08.2A – Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with systemic onset, other specified site
• New: M08.4A – Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, other specified site
• New: M08.9A – Juvenile arthritis, unspecified, other specified site

• New: M19.09 – Primary osteoarthritis, other specified site
• New: M19.19 – Post-traumatic osteoarthritis, other specified site
• New: M19.29 – Secondary osteoarthritis, other specified site

• New: M24.19 – Other articular cartilage disorders, other specified site
• New: M24.29 – Disorder of ligament, other specified site
• New: M24.39 – Pathological dislocation of other specified joint, not elsewhere classified
• New: M24.49 – Recurrent dislocation, other specified joint
• New: M24.59 – Contracture, other specified joint
• New: M24.69 – Ankylosis, other specified joint

• New: M25.39 – Other instability, other specified joint
• New: M25.29 – Pain in other specified joint
• New: M25.69 – Stiffness of other specified joint, not elsewhere classified

• New: M26.641 – Arthritis of right temporomandibular joint
• New: M26.642 – Arthritis of left temporomandibular joint
• New: M26.643 – Arthritis of bilateral temporomandibular joint
• New: M26.649 – Arthritis of unspecified temporomandibular joint
• New: M26.651 – Arthropathy of right temporomandibular joint
• New: M26.652 – Arthropathy of left temporomandibular joint
• New: M26.653 – Arthropathy of bilateral temporomandibular joint
• New: M26.659 – Arthropathy of unspecified temporomandibular joint

• New: M80.0AXA – Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, initial encounter for fracture
• New: M80.0AXD – Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
• New: M80.0AXG – Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
• New: M80.0AXK – Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
• New: M80.0AXP – Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
• New: M80.0AXS – Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, sequela
• New: M80.8AXA – Other osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, initial encounter for fracture
• New: M80.8AXD – Other osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
• New: M80.8AXG – Other osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
• New: M80.8AXK – Other osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
• New: M80.8AXP – Other osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
• New: M80.8AXS – Other osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, other site, sequela

• Deleted: M92.50 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia and fibula, unspecified leg
• New: M92.501 – Unspecified juvenile osteochondrosis, right leg
• New: M92.502 – Unspecified juvenile osteochondrosis, left leg
• New: M92.503 – Unspecified juvenile osteochondrosis, bilateral leg
• New: M92.509 – Unspecified juvenile osteochondrosis, unspecified leg

• Deleted: M92.51 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia and fibula, right leg
• New: M92.511 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of proximal tibia, right leg
• New: M92.512 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of proximal tibia, left leg
• New: M92.513 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of proximal tibia, bilateral
• New: M92.519 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of proximal tibia, unspecified

• Deleted: M92.52 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia and fibula, left leg
• New: M92.521 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia tubercle, right leg
• New: M92.522 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia tubercle, left leg
• New: M92.523 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia tubercle, bilateral
• New: M92.529 – Juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia tubercle, unspecified leg
• New: M92.591 – Other juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia and fibula, right leg
• New: M92.592 – Other juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia and fibula, left leg
• New: M92.593 – Other juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia and fibula, bilateral
• New: M92.599 – Other juvenile osteochondrosis of tibia and fibula, unspecified leg

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