HCC Blog by Caridad

Chapter 8: Diseases of Ear and Mastoid Process (H6Ø-H95) Some general notes and definitions for this chapter. IF there is a note at the beginning of the chapter that states to use an external cause code following the code for the condition of the ear, that will identify the cause of the ear condition.   The external ear consists of the pinna or auricular, and the external acoustic meatus.   Otitis media is any inflammation of the middle ear not indicating etiology or pathogenesis.   Definitions: Otitis media (OM), acute OM (AOM), OM with effusion (OME) and lacks signs and symptoms of infection.  Chronic suppurative OM is a chronic inflammation of the middle ear lasting at least 6 weeks, associated with otorrhea through a perforated tympanic membrane (TM), and indwelling tympanostomy tube, or a surigal myringotomy.  Further labeled as acute - acute onset, persistent – if there is a relapse within one month of treatment, recurrent - if th...

Chapter 7: Diseases of Eye and Adnexa (HØØ-H59) Glaucoma is an eye condition that develops when too much fluid pressure builds up inside the eye.  The increased pressure is called intraocular pressure. It can damage the optic nerve that transmits images to the brain. It the pressure continues it can cause loss of vision and even permanent blindness. Open-angle glaucoma aka wide-angle glaucoma is the most common. The fluid in the eye does not flow property through the drain of the eye, known as the trabecular meshwork. Angle-closure glaucoma aka acute or chronic angle-closure of narrow-angle glaucoma is less common. The angle between the iris and the cornea is too narrow and can cause poor drainage. Bilateral glaucoma with same type and stage Bilateral glaucoma with same type and stage – when there is bilateral glaucoma and both eyes are documented with the same type and stage, and there is a code from bilateral glaucoma, ignore it and instead report only the code for the...