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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
ICD-10 CodesA22

A22

Anthrax

BILLABLE STATUSNo
IMPLEMENTATION DATEOctober 1, 2015
LAST UPDATED08/28/2025

Code Description

ICD-10 A22 is a used to indicate a diagnosis of anthrax.

Key Diagnostic Point:

Pulmonary tularemia

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 A22 When
  • The ICD
  • 10 Code A22 is a non
  • billable code
  • To code A22 correctly, the following must be considered:
  • A22 code refers to Anthrax, a rare but serious illness caused by a spore
  • forming bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis
  • The inclusion terms associated with this code can be used in the diagnostic statement for diseases classified to the code
  • Inclusions include:

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use A22 When
  • Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:
  • Exclusion criteria might vary depending on the specific manifestation of Anthrax

Related Codes

Child Codes

6 codes
A22.0
Pulmonary anthrax
A22.1
Anthrax meningitis
A22.2
Pulmonary tularemia
A22.7
Anthrax meningitis
A22.8
Anthrax with other specified site
A22.9
Pulmonary tularemia

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 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) greatly influenced the healthcare industry's coding system including the coding for A22 or Anthrax, which is non-billable.
1. Specificity: ICD-10 has much greater specificity than the previous ICD-9. For A22, Anthrax, there are specific codes for different types of Anthrax such as A22.0 for Cutaneous anthrax, A22.1 for Pulmonary anthrax, and A22.2 for Gastrointestinal anthrax. ICD-10 allows a higher degree of detail to be recorded, which can improve data for tracking health outcomes and conducting clinical research.
2. Reimbursement: With ICD-10, the coding for non-billable codes such as A22 also changed for reimbursement purposes. Non-billable codes like A22 are typically used for statistical tracking reasons; they cannot be used for reimbursement as they are not specific enough. They require additional characters to be added for specific conditions related to Anthrax. The high level of specificity in ICD-10 results in a more accurate payment system by reducing the number of miscoded, rejected, or delayed claims ensuring that healthcare providers are reimbursed accurately and promptly.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) greatly influenced the healthcare industry's coding system including the coding for A22 or Anthrax, which is non-billable. 1. Specificity: ICD-10 has much greater specificity than the previous ICD-9. For A22, Anthrax, there are specific codes for different types of Anthrax such as A22.0 for Cutaneous anthrax, A22.1 for Pulmonary anthrax, and A22.2 for Gastrointestinal anthrax. ICD-10 allows a higher degree of detail to be recorded, which can improve data for tracking health outcomes and conducting clinical research. 2. Reimbursement: With ICD-10, the coding for non-billable codes such as A22 also changed for reimbursement purposes. Non-billable codes like A22 are typically used for statistical tracking reasons; they cannot be used for reimbursement as they are not specific enough. They require additional characters to be added for specific conditions related to Anthrax. The high level of specificity in ICD-10 results in a more accurate...

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

Reimbursement: With ICD-10, the coding for non-billable codes such as A22 also changed for reimbursement purposes. Non-billable codes like A22 are typically used for statistical tracking reasons; they cannot be used for reimbursement as they are not specific enough. They require additional characters to be added for specific conditions related to Anthrax. The high level of specificity in ICD-10 results in a more accurate payment system by reducing the number of miscoded, rejected, or delayed claims ensuring that healthcare providers are reimbursed accurately and promptly.

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

Q: What does it mean when an ICD-10 code is defined as "non-billable"?

A: A "non-billable" ICD-10 code like A22 signifies that it cannot be used to submit a claim for reimbursement from insurance providers. Instead, it is typically more of a "header" code that contains more specific "children" or sub-categories which can be billed.

Q: What medical condition does the ICD-10 code A22 represent?

A: The ICD-10 code A22 refers to anthrax, a rare but serious illness caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. There are more specific codes within A22's hierarchy which details the various types of anthrax such as cutaneous, inhalation, and gastrointestinal anthrax.

Q: How do I document a case using ICD-10 code A22?

A: When documenting a case under ICD-10 code A22, it is generally expected to include a specific child code to most accurately describe the nature and/or site of the anthrax. For instance, if a patient has pulmonary anthrax, you might use the specific sub-code A22.1 (Pulmonary anthrax) for documentation.

Q: Can I use code A22 for billing purposes?

A: No, ICD-10 code A22 is non-billable, which means it is not sufficient justification for admission to an acute care hospital when used as a principal diagnosis. However, its more specific sub-codes can be used for billing purposes.

Q: Can I use a more specific ICD-10 code within A22 for insurance billing?

A: Yes, more specific ICD-10 codes that fall within the A22 category (such as A22.0 for cutaneous anthrax) are usually billable codes that indicate a specific diagnosis for reimbursement from insurance companies.

Q: Why is it important to use the correct sub-code within the ICD-10 A22 code?

A: Using the correct sub-code within A22 is crucial for accurate medical documentation and billing reasons. It ensures that the precise diagnosis is noted, provides justification for medical procedures or treatments, and ensures appropriate payment for diagnosing and treating a patient's condition.