ICD-10 Coding for Alcoholic Fatty Liver(K70.0)
Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Alcoholic Fatty Liver. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.
Also known as:
Related ICD-10 Code Ranges
Complete code families applicable to Alcoholic Fatty Liver
K70-K77Primary Range
Diseases of liver
This range includes all liver diseases, with K70 specifically addressing alcoholic liver diseases.
Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use
This range includes codes for alcohol use disorders, which are necessary for coding alcoholic liver diseases.
Key Information: ICD-10 code for alcoholic fatty liver
Essential facts and insights about Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Primary ICD-10-CM Code for alcoholic fatty liver
Decision Criteria
clinical Criteria
- AST:ALT ratio >2 and significant alcohol use
coding Criteria
- Pair with F10.- for alcohol use disorder
Applicable To
- Alcoholic steatosis
Excludes
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (K76.0)
Clinical Validation Requirements
- AST:ALT ratio >2
- Daily alcohol intake >40g (men) / >20g (women)
- Elevated GGT, MCV >95 fL
Code-Specific Risks
- Omitting F10.- code for alcohol use disorder
- Misclassifying as NAFLD without alcohol documentation
Coding Notes
- Ensure alcohol consumption is documented to differentiate from NAFLD.
Ancillary Codes
Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.
Abnormal liver function tests
R94.5Differential Codes
Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
K76.0Documentation & Coding Risks
Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Alcoholic Fatty Liver to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code K70.0.
Impact
Clinical: May lead to incorrect diagnosis and treatment., Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Financial: Potential for claim denials.
Mitigation Strategy
Ensure thorough patient history taking., Use standardized forms for alcohol use documentation.
Impact
Reimbursement: Incorrect coding may lead to claim denials., Compliance: Misclassification can result in compliance issues., Data Quality: Affects the accuracy of health records and statistics.
Mitigation Strategy
Ensure alcohol use is documented and use K70.0 instead.
Impact
Lack of detailed alcohol use documentation can lead to audit issues.
Mitigation Strategy
Implement standardized documentation protocols for alcohol use.
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 Alcoholic Fatty Liver, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.
Documentation Templates for Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Alcoholic Fatty Liver. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.
Initial Diagnosis of Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Specialty: GastroenterologyRequired Elements
- Patient history of alcohol use
- Liver function test results
- Imaging results showing steatosis
Example Documentation
Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation
Poor Documentation Example
Good Documentation Example
Explanation
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