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ICD-10 Coding for Acute Laryngitis(J04.0)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Acute Laryngitis. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Viral LaryngitisBacterial Laryngitis

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Acute Laryngitis

J00-J06Primary Range

Acute upper respiratory infections

This range includes acute laryngitis, which is an upper respiratory infection.

Bacterial and viral infectious agents

These codes are used to specify the infectious agent causing acute laryngitis.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for acute laryngitis

Essential facts and insights about Acute Laryngitis

The ICD-10 code for acute laryngitis without obstruction is J04.0. Use additional codes from B95-B97 if an infectious agent is identified.

Primary ICD-10-CM Code for acute laryngitis

Acute laryngitis
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Patient presents with acute onset of hoarseness and throat pain without stridor.

coding Criteria

  • Use J04.0 when no obstruction is documented.

documentation Criteria

  • Document absence of obstruction and specify acute onset.

Applicable To

  • Acute laryngitis without obstruction

Excludes

  • Chronic laryngitis (J37.0)
  • Acute obstructive laryngitis (J05.0)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Hoarseness
  • Throat pain
  • Absence of airway obstruction

Code-Specific Risks

  • Incorrectly coding when obstruction is present
  • Omitting infectious agent code when applicable

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies 'acute' and absence of obstruction.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Streptococcus, group A, as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

B95.2
Use when streptococcal infection is confirmed.

Other viral agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere

B97.89
Use when a specific viral agent is identified.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Acute obstructive laryngitis

J05.0
Presence of airway obstruction such as stridor.

Chronic laryngitis

J37.0
Symptoms persisting for 3 weeks or more.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Acute Laryngitis to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code J04.0.

Impact

Clinical: May lead to incorrect diagnosis of chronic laryngitis., Regulatory: Non-compliance with ICD-10 documentation standards., Financial: Potential claim denials due to incorrect coding.

Mitigation Strategy

Always record the duration of symptoms., Use templates to ensure completeness.

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding may lead to denied claims., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data affecting patient records.

Mitigation Strategy

Use J05.0 if obstruction is documented.

Impact

Reimbursement: May affect DRG assignment and reimbursement., Compliance: Failure to comply with coding standards., Data Quality: Incomplete clinical data affecting epidemiological tracking.

Mitigation Strategy

Add the appropriate B95-B97 code when the infectious agent is confirmed.

Impact

Failure to code infectious agents when identified.

Mitigation Strategy

Implement checks for lab results before finalizing codes.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Acute Laryngitis, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Acute Laryngitis

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Acute Laryngitis. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Acute laryngitis without obstruction

Specialty: Otolaryngology

Required Elements

  • Onset of symptoms
  • Presence or absence of obstruction
  • Test results
  • Treatment plan

Example Documentation

Patient presents with hoarseness and throat pain for 2 days. No stridor or airway obstruction noted. Rapid strep test negative. Viral panel pending.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Laryngitis, treat with rest.
Good Documentation Example
Acute laryngitis (J04.0) secondary to rhinovirus (B97.89). No obstruction. Recommend voice rest ×7 days.
Explanation
The good example specifies the acute nature, absence of obstruction, and includes the infectious agent.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Acute Laryngitis? Ask your questions below.

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