Hepatitis C ICD-10-CM Codes | 2023
Explore the commonly used ICD-10 codes for Hepatitis C, including their clinical significance, billing aspects, and role in effective disease management.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What ICD-10 Codes Are Used for Hepatitis C?
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) provides specific codes that play a crucial role in diagnosing, billing, and treating various health conditions, including Hepatitis C. These codes help healthcare professionals accurately document a patient's health history, streamline billing procedures, and contribute valuable data to public health research.
The following are six of the most frequently used Hepatitis C ICD Codes:
- B17.1: Acute Hepatitis C: This code represents a recent diagnosis of Hepatitis C infection, indicating the initial stage of the disease.
- B18.2: Chronic Viral Hepatitis C: Used to denote a long-standing Hepatitis C infection, this code reflects the chronic nature of the disease.
- Z22.52: Carrier of Viral Hepatitis C: This code is applied when an individual carries the Hepatitis C virus but exhibits no symptoms, often referred to as a "silent carrier."
- B19.20: Unspecified Viral Hepatitis C without Hepatic Coma: Healthcare professionals use this code when a patient has Hepatitis C, but the specific characteristics of the infection are not fully documented in the medical records.
- B15.0: Hepatitis A with Hepatic Coma: While this code primarily pertains to Hepatitis A, it's also used when a Hepatitis C patient develops a hepatic coma, a severe complication involving loss of consciousness due to liver disease.
- B16.9: Acute Hepatitis B without Delta-Agent and without Hepatic Coma: This code is used when a patient diagnosed with Hepatitis C also contracts Hepatitis B, indicating a co-infection.
For a more in-depth understanding of Hepatitis C ICD codes and their role in medical billing, watch our video below. This will help you navigate the complexities of ICD codes and their essential role in the healthcare industry.
Which Hepatitis C ICD codes are billable?
- B17.1: Yes
- B18.2: Yes
- Z22.52: Yes
- B19.20: Yes
- B15.0: No
- B16.9: No
Clinical Information
- Nature of the Disease: Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus. The virus specifically targets the liver, causing inflammation and possibly leading to liver damage.
- Symptoms: Hepatitis C can be challenging to identify initially, as many patients don't exhibit noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, and abdominal pain.
- Acute vs. Chronic Infection: The infection can be acute or chronic. An acute infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first six months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis C virus. In contrast, a chronic infection is a long-term condition when the virus remains in a person's body.
- Complications: If left untreated, chronic Hepatitis C can result in severe health complications such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and liver failure, all of which can be life-threatening.
- Exposure and Transmission: Hepatitis C is primarily spread through direct contact with an infected person's blood. This can occur through sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs, needlestick injuries in healthcare settings, or being born to a mother with Hepatitis C. Less commonly, it can spread through sexual contact with an infected person.
- Diagnosis: Hepatitis C is diagnosed through blood tests that look for the presence of Hepatitis C antibodies or the Hepatitis C virus's genetic material.
- Treatment: Treatment typically involves antiviral medications to clear the virus from the body. The choice of medication and length of treatment depend on the Hepatitis C genotype, existing liver damage, other medical conditions, and previous treatments. In severe cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.
- Prevention: There is currently no vaccine for Hepatitis C. The best way to prevent Hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injecting drugs.
Synonyms Include:
- HCV
- Hep C
- Chronic Hep C
- Acute Hep C
- Viral Hepatitis C
Commonly asked questions
A Hepatitis C ICD code is used when a patient is diagnosed with Hepatitis C or when the medical history indicates a past Hepatitis C infection. The specific code used depends on whether the infection is acute, chronic, or carrier status.
Most Hepatitis C diagnoses are billable, including codes B17.1, B18.2, Z22.52, and B19.20. The exact billability might vary depending on the specific requirements of a health insurance provider.
Common treatments for Hepatitis C include antiviral medications, supportive treatments for symptoms, and in severe cases, liver transplantation. The specific treatment depends on the severity and stage of the disease.
A diagnosis code for Hepatitis C indicates that the patient has been diagnosed with the Hepatitis C virus. The specific code provides more information about the type and stage of the disease.
