In ICD-10-CM coding, how is the current status conveyed?

• A. By the patient’s age
• B. By documenting acute or chronic status within the code or using distinct codes
• C. By physician license level
• D. By payer policy only

Answer: (B)

In ICD-10-CM, the current status of a condition is shown by the code chosen. The system provides distinct codes or code descriptions that indicate whether a condition is acute, chronic, or an acute-on-chronic situation. The clinician’s documentation of the status is used by the coder to select the appropriate code that conveys that status. Age, physician license level, or payer policy do not determine the current status reflected in the code. For example, there are separate codes (or code descriptors) for acute bronchitis versus chronic bronchitis, and a condition described as an acute exacerbation of a chronic disease is coded to reflect that acute event.