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ICD-10 Coding for Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy(K76.6, K31.88)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Portal Hypertensive GastropathyPHG

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy

K76-K77Primary Range

Diseases of liver

Includes portal hypertension, which is the underlying cause of hypertensive portal gastropathy.

Diseases of stomach and duodenum

Includes specific diseases of the stomach such as portal hypertensive gastropathy.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
K76.6Portal hypertensionUse when portal hypertension is confirmed as the underlying condition.
  • Cirrhosis confirmed by imaging or biopsy
  • Presence of varices or ascites
  • Elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG)
K31.88Other specified diseases of stomach and duodenumUse as a secondary code when portal hypertensive gastropathy is documented.
  • Endoscopic findings of mosaic pattern or snake-skin appearance
  • Absence of inflammation or H. pylori infection

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: How is hypertensive portal gastropathy coded?

Essential facts and insights about Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy

Hypertensive portal gastropathy is coded with K76.6 for portal hypertension and K31.88 for gastropathy. Sequence K76.6 first.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for hypertensive portal gastropathy

Portal hypertension
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Confirmed portal hypertension with endoscopic findings of gastropathy

Applicable To

  • Portal hypertension due to cirrhosis

Excludes

  • Esophageal varices without bleeding (I85.00)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Cirrhosis confirmed by imaging or biopsy
  • Presence of varices or ascites
  • Elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG)

Code-Specific Risks

  • Incorrectly coding as primary without evidence of portal hypertension

Coding Notes

  • Always sequence K76.6 before K31.88 when coding for hypertensive portal gastropathy.

Ancillary Codes

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

Other specified diseases of stomach and duodenum

K31.88
Use for portal hypertensive gastropathy as a manifestation of portal hypertension.

Differential Codes

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

Esophageal varices without bleeding

I85.00
Presence of varices without bleeding; not directly related to gastropathy.

Other specified diseases of stomach and duodenum

K31.89
GAVE typically presents with different endoscopic findings and location.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code K76.6.

Impact

Clinical: Leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment., Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards., Financial: Potential for denied claims due to lack of specificity.

Mitigation Strategy

Educate providers on the importance of specifying gastropathy type., Implement checklist for endoscopic documentation.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to incorrect DRG assignment and reimbursement issues., Compliance: Non-compliance with ICD-10 sequencing rules., Data Quality: Inaccurate representation of patient's clinical condition.

Mitigation Strategy

Always code portal hypertension (K76.6) first, as PHG is a manifestation.

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can affect reimbursement rates., Compliance: Potential audit risk due to misclassification., Data Quality: Impacts clinical data accuracy and patient records.

Mitigation Strategy

Differentiate based on endoscopic findings and location.

Impact

Failure to sequence portal hypertension before gastropathy.

Mitigation Strategy

Educate coding 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 Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Gastroenterology Progress Note

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Required Elements

  • Endoscopic findings
  • Linkage to portal hypertension
  • Cirrhosis status

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
EGD shows gastropathy. Follow up in 6 months.
Good Documentation Example
EGD reveals severe portal hypertensive gastropathy (snake-skin mosaic pattern with punctate erythema) in the gastric fundus. Patient has known decompensated cirrhosis (MELD 18) with portal hypertension confirmed by HVPG 12 mmHg. No evidence of variceal bleeding.
Explanation
The good example provides specific endoscopic findings, links to portal hypertension, and includes cirrhosis status, ensuring comprehensive documentation.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Hypertensive Portal Gastropathy? Ask your questions below.

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