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ICD-10 Coding for Familial Hypercholesterolemia(E78.01, Z83.42)

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

Also known as:

FHHereditary Hypercholesterolemia

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Familial Hypercholesterolemia

E78.0-E78.9Primary Range

Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and other lipidemias

This range includes all hyperlipidemia disorders, with E78.01 specifically for familial hypercholesterolemia.

Family history of other specific disorders

Includes family history of hyperlipidemia, specifically Z83.42 for familial hypercholesterolemia.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
E78.01Familial hypercholesterolemiaUse when a patient has a confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia through genetic testing or clinical criteria.
  • LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL
  • Genetic testing confirming LDLR, APOB, or PCSK9 variant
  • Presence of tendon xanthomas
Z83.42Family history of familial hypercholesterolemiaUse when there is a documented family history of FH impacting patient management.
  • Documented family history of FH in first or second-degree relatives

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 familial hypercholesterolemia

Essential facts and insights about Familial Hypercholesterolemia

The ICD-10 code for familial hypercholesterolemia is E78.01, used for confirmed genetic cases with elevated LDL-C levels.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL and genetic variant confirmed

documentation Criteria

  • Documented family history of FH with genetic confirmation

Applicable To

  • Genetic hypercholesterolemia
  • Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Excludes

  • Secondary hyperlipidemia (E78.2)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL
  • Genetic testing confirming LDLR, APOB, or PCSK9 variant
  • Presence of tendon xanthomas

Code-Specific Risks

  • Incorrectly coding as unspecified hyperlipidemia (E78.00)
  • Missing documentation of genetic confirmation

Coding Notes

  • Ensure genetic testing results and LDL-C levels are documented to support the use of E78.01.

Ancillary Codes

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

Family history of familial hypercholesterolemia

Z83.42
Use when documenting family history relevant to patient care, such as cascade screening.

Differential Codes

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

Pure hypercholesterolemia, unspecified

E78.00
Use E78.00 when hypercholesterolemia is present without genetic confirmation or family history.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Familial Hypercholesterolemia to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code E78.01.

Impact

Clinical: May affect risk assessment and management strategies, Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards, Financial: Potential for denied claims due to incomplete documentation

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure thorough family history is taken and documented, Use templates to capture all relevant information

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to lower reimbursement rates, Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines, Data Quality: Inaccurate patient records and statistics

Mitigation Strategy

Confirm genetic testing results and document family history to support E78.01.

Impact

Failure to document genetic testing results can lead to coding errors.

Mitigation Strategy

Implement checklists to ensure all genetic testing results are documented.

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 Familial Hypercholesterolemia, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Familial Hypercholesterolemia

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

Initial Diagnosis of Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Specialty: Cardiology

Required Elements

  • LDL-C levels
  • Genetic testing results
  • Family history details
  • Physical examination findings

Example Documentation

Patient presents with LDL-C 250 mg/dL, confirmed LDLR variant, and family history of early CAD.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient has high cholesterol.
Good Documentation Example
Patient diagnosed with FH, LDL-C 250 mg/dL, LDLR variant confirmed, father had MI at 45.
Explanation
The good example provides specific genetic and clinical details necessary for accurate coding.

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