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ICD-10 Coding for Allergic Reaction to Medication(T36.0X5A, L27.0)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Allergic Reaction to Medication. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Drug AllergyMedication Hypersensitivity

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Allergic Reaction to Medication

T36-T50Primary Range

Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances

Primary range for coding adverse effects of medications, including allergic reactions.

Personal history of allergy to drugs, medicaments and biological substances

Used for documenting historical allergies without current reaction.

Dermatitis due to substances taken internally

Used for skin reactions due to internal drug administration.

Adverse effects, not elsewhere classified

Used for unspecified allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
T36.0X5AAdverse effect of penicillins, initial encounterUse when a patient has a documented allergic reaction to penicillin.
  • Documented immune-mediated reaction to penicillin
  • Symptoms such as urticaria or anaphylaxis
L27.0Generalized skin eruption due to drugs and medicaments taken internallyUse for generalized skin eruptions caused by internal drug administration.
  • Documented skin eruption following drug intake

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for allergic reaction to medication

Essential facts and insights about Allergic Reaction to Medication

Use T36-T50 codes with a 5th character '5' for adverse effects, plus a specific reaction code like L27.0 for skin eruptions.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for allergic reaction to medication

Adverse effect of penicillins, initial encounter
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Confirmed immune-mediated reaction to penicillin

documentation Criteria

  • Detailed documentation of reaction and drug involved

Applicable To

  • Allergic reaction to penicillin

Excludes

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Documented immune-mediated reaction to penicillin
  • Symptoms such as urticaria or anaphylaxis

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if reaction is not immune-mediated

Coding Notes

  • Ensure to document the specific drug and reaction details.

Ancillary Codes

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

Personal history of allergy to penicillin

Z88.0
Use to document historical allergy status without current reaction.

Differential Codes

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

Allergy, unspecified

T78.40
Use T78.40 when the specific drug causing the reaction is unknown.

Allergic contact dermatitis due to drugs in contact with skin

L23.7
Use L23.7 for contact dermatitis due to topical drug application.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Allergic Reaction to Medication to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code T36.0X5A.

Impact

Clinical: Inaccurate patient records, Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards, Financial: Potential claim denials

Mitigation Strategy

Always document the specific drug involved, Use structured templates

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can lead to denied claims., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Impacts accuracy of patient records.

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific T36-T50 codes for known drug reactions.

Impact

Failure to sequence reaction codes before T36-T50 codes.

Mitigation Strategy

Educate staff on proper sequencing rules.

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 Allergic Reaction to Medication, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Allergic Reaction to Medication

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Allergic Reaction to Medication. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Emergency Department Visit for Drug Allergy

Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Required Elements

  • Drug name
  • Reaction type and severity
  • Timing of reaction
  • Diagnostic tests performed

Example Documentation

Patient presented with generalized urticaria and angioedema 30 minutes after cefazolin administration. Positive skin prick test confirmed.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Allergic to cefazolin.
Good Documentation Example
Patient developed urticaria and angioedema 30 minutes post-cefazolin. Confirmed by positive skin test.
Explanation
The good example provides specific reaction details and confirmation method.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Allergic Reaction to Medication? Ask your questions below.

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