ICD-10 Guide

A21.0

Tularaemia

BILLABLE STATUSYes

IMPLEMENTATION DATEOctober 1, 2015

LAST UPDATED09/01/2025

Code Description

ICD-10 A21.0 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of tularaemia.

Key Diagnostic Point:

CODE DESCRIPTION:

ICD-10 Code: A21.0 - Tularaemia
Medical Condition: Tularaemia, also known as rabbit fever or deer fly fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.
Key Characteristics and Symptoms: This condition is characterized by sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive weakness. There are several forms of tularaemia, each with specific symptoms, such as ulceroglandular, glandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, and typhoidal.
Usage: This code is used for billing and documentation purposes when a patient is diagnosed with tularaemia. It is applicable in settings where the diagnosis has been confirmed through clinical evaluation and laboratory testing.
Unique Identifiers: Tularaemia is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans, often through insect bites or direct contact with infected animals.
CLINICAL INFORMATION:
Clinical Definition: Tularaemia is a potentially serious illness that can affect the skin, eyes, lymph nodes, and lungs. It is a rare but highly infectious disease.
Etiology and Pathophysiology: The disease is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can be transmitted to humans through various routes, including insect bites (ticks and deer flies), handling infected animals, ingestion of contaminated water, or inhalation of aerosols.

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

Standard complexity factors

Audit Risk Factors

Standard audit considerations

Specialty Focus

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use A21.0 When

Comprehensive Coding Guidelines for ICD
10 Code A21
0 (Tularaemia)
OFFICIAL CODING GUIDELINES
Specific Inclusion Criteria
10 code A21
0 is used to report cases of ulceroglandular tularaemia, which is a form of tularaemia characterized by skin ulcers and swollen lymph glands
This code should be used when the clinical documentation specifies ulceroglandular tularaemia as the diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use A21.0 When

Exclusion Notes

Related CPT Codes

No CPT Codes Available

Related CPT codes for this diagnosis will be displayed here when available.

ICD-10 Impact

Diagnostic & Documentation Impact

Enhanced Specificity

ICD-10 Improvements

The increased specificity in ICD-10 impacts reimbursement by enabling more precise coding, which can lead to more accurate reflection of the severity and complexity of a patient's condition. This precision can potentially influence reimbursement rates, as payers often consider the specificity of codes when determining coverage and payment. Accurate coding is crucial to ensure appropriate reimbursement and avoid claim denials.

Documentation requirements have also evolved with ICD-10 implementation. Clinicians must provide detailed clinical notes that capture the specific type and manifestation of tularemia to support the more granular ICD-10 coding. This includes specifying the form of tularemia, such as ulceroglandular or pneumonic, and any associated complications. Enhanced documentation ensures compliance with coding standards and supports the billing process, ultimately affecting the financial health of healthcare practices.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 brought significant changes in coding specificity, including for conditions like tularemia, coded as A21.0 in ICD-10. Under ICD-9, tularemia was coded as 021.0, which lacked the granularity provided by ICD-10. The ICD-10 system allows for more precise classification, distinguishing between different forms and manifestations of tularemia, which can aid in more accurate epidemiological tracking and clinical management. The increased specificity in ICD-10 impacts reimbursement by enabling more precise coding, which can lead to more accurate reflection of the severity and complexity of a patient's condition. This precision can potentially influence reimbursement rates, as payers often consider the specificity of codes when determining coverage and payment. Accurate coding is crucial to ensure appropriate reimbursement and avoid claim denials. Documentation requirements have also evolved with ICD-10 implementation. Clinicians must provide detailed clinical notes that capture the specific type and manifestation of tularemia to support the more...

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

reimbursement by enabling more precise coding, which can lead to more accurate reflection of the severity and complexity of a patient's condition. This precision can potentially influence reimbursement rates, as payers often consider the specificity of codes when determining coverage and payment. Accurate coding is crucial to ensure appropriate reimbursement and avoid claim denials.

Resources

Clinical References

No clinical reference resources available for this code.

Coding & Billing References

No coding and billing reference resources available for this code.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs for ICD-10 Code A21.0 (Tularaemia)

Information not available.

What is the ICD-10 code A21.0, and what does it represent?

A1: The ICD-10 code A21.0 represents "Ulceroglandular tularaemia," which is the most common form of tularaemia. It is characterized by skin ulcers and swollen lymph glands. Tularaemia is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. This code is used when the clinical documentation specifies ulceroglandular tularaemia.

How should a medical coder document a case of ulceroglandular tularaemia for accurate coding?

A2: Accurate documentation for ulceroglandular tularaemia should include the specific type of tularaemia (ulceroglandular), the presence of skin ulcers, and any associated lymphadenopathy. For example, "Patient presents with a skin ulcer on the arm and swollen lymph nodes in the axillary region, diagnosed as ulceroglandular tularaemia." This level of detail ensures the correct assignment of ICD-10 code A21.0.

Can you provide a scenario where ICD-10 code A21.0 would be used, and how it affects billing?

A3: Scenario: A patient visits the clinic with a fever, skin ulcer on the hand, and swollen lymph nodes. After laboratory tests, the patient is diagnosed with ulceroglandular tularaemia. In this case, ICD-10 code A21.0 is used for billing purposes. Proper documentation and coding ensure that the healthcare provider is reimbursed for the specific treatment of ulceroglandular tularaemia, which may include antibiotics and supportive care.

How does ICD-10 code A21.0 relate to other codes within the A21 category?

A4: ICD-10 code A21.0 is part of the A21 category, which encompasses various forms of tularaemia. Other codes in this category include A21.1 (Glandular tularaemia), A21.2 (Oculoglandular tularaemia), A21.3 (Pulmonary tularaemia), A21.7 (Tularaemia, unspecified), and A21.9 (Tularaemia, unspecified). Each code specifies a different clinical presentation of the disease, and accurate coding depends on the documented symptoms and diagnosis.

What are the considerations for pairing ICD-10 code A21.0 with CPT codes for treatment procedures?

A5: When pairing ICD-10 code A21.0 with CPT codes, it is important to select CPT codes that reflect the specific treatments provided for ulceroglandular tularaemia. For example, if the treatment includes incision and drainage of an abscess, you might use CPT code 10060 (Incision and drainage of abscess; simple or single). Ensure that the CPT code matches the documented procedure to support accurate billing and reimbursement.

ICD-10 A21.0 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of tularaemia.

Key Diagnostic Point:

CODE DESCRIPTION:

ICD-10 Code: A21.0 - Tularaemia
Medical Condition: Tularaemia, also known as rabbit fever or deer fly fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.
Key Characteristics and Symptoms: This condition is characterized by sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive weakness. There are several forms of tularaemia, each with specific symptoms, such as ulceroglandular, glandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, and typhoidal.
Usage: This code is used for billing and documentation purposes when a patient is diagnosed with tularaemia. It is applicable in settings where the diagnosis has been confirmed through clinical evaluation and laboratory testing.
Unique Identifiers: Tularaemia is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans, often through insect bites or direct contact with infected animals.
CLINICAL INFORMATION:
Clinical Definition: Tularaemia is a potentially serious illness that can affect the skin, eyes, lymph nodes, and lungs. It is a rare but highly infectious disease.
Etiology and Pathophysiology: The disease is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which can be transmitted to humans through various routes, including insect bites (ticks and deer flies), handling infected animals, ingestion of contaminated water, or inhalation of aerosols.