ICD-10 Guide

Inferior Stemi

ICD-10 Coding for Inferior STEMI(I21.11, I21.19)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYCardiology

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Inferior Stemi?

Essential facts and insights about Inferior STEMI

Key Clinical Considerations:

Chest pain or discomfort, often radiating to the arm, jaw, or back
Elevated ST-segment on ECG in the inferior leads (II, III, aVF)
Possible symptoms of shortness of breath, nausea, or diaphoresis

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Patient history including risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes)
ECG findings and interpretation
Details of any cardiac biomarkers tested (e.g., troponin levels)

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Follow usage guidelines for acute myocardial infarction coding.
Common errors include misclassifying STEMI as NSTEMI or failing to specify the wall involved.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
Codes for other types of myocardial infarction

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Cardiology

Specialty Applications

Adults with risk factors for coronary artery disease
Emergency departments and cardiology clinics

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

Comprehensive clinical documentation
Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
Proper exclusion considerations
Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Ensure proper documentation for billing
Verify code specificity requirements
Check for any additional codes needed
Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

Insufficient clinical documentation
Incorrect code selection
Missing supporting diagnoses
Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the documentation requirements?

Document all clinical findings, ECG results, and patient history.

What are the billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding of the specific STEMI type and associated treatments.

Inferior Stemi

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the documentation requirements?

What are the billing considerations?

Inferior Stemi

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the documentation requirements?

What are the billing considerations?