Chapter 1:Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
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: High
High Complexity
ICD-10 code A22 is a high-level category for Anthrax, a severe illness caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Being a non-billable code indicates that it cannot be used as a standalone code, it requires additional character extensions for a more specific billing. The specific types of anthrax include A22.0 (cutaneous anthrax), A22.1 (pulmonary anthrax), A22.2 (gastrointestinal anthrax), A22.3 (anthrax septicemia), and A22.9 (anthrax, unspecified).
1. Rating: Being a non-billable code, A22 has a relatively higher degree of complexity due to the specific follow-up characters required.
2. Factors: The complexity of A22 is influenced by several factors. Billing is contingent on using character extensions for specification. Additionally, coding professionals need to consider multiple factors such as the source of the infection, the presence of any complications, and if there's need for any additional codes to describe any associated conditions.
3. Audit Risks: Among the audit risks involved, the foremost is billing inaccuracies if the specific coding extensions are not accurately applied. This can lead to claim denials, revenue loss and potential regulatory scrutiny. Also, coding errors could risk patient safety due to inaccurate recording and understanding of the patient’s condition. Misclassification of the disease type would inaccurately portray the severity and type of infection, which could lead to the wrong treatment plan, contributing to the financial and clinical risks.
To manage the complexity and audit risks of the ICD-10 code A22, good coding practices, employee training, and periodic audits are necessary. Regular checks can ensure that the correct version of this code is being used, which in turn, can reduce the risks of billing errors, rejected claims, or audit failures.
Specialty Focus
Medical Specialties
The ICD-10 code A22 represents Anthrax, a serious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis bacteria. It is a non-billable code, meaning it cannot be used for reimbursement purposes. Here are three medical specialties that would deal with this condition:
1. Infectious Disease Specialist: Doctors in this specialty are specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. They would treat patients suffering from Anthrax and also work on preventing and controlling the infection.
Clinical scenario: A patient is admitted with severe flu-like symptoms and it's discovered that they were recently exposed to anthrax while on a research trip abroad. The attending physician would consult an infectious disease specialist to help manage and treat the patient's condition.
2. Pulmonology or Chest Medicine: Pulmonologists deal with diseases affecting the respiratory system. Inhalational anthrax, one of the most deadly forms of the disease, affects the lungs.
Clinical Scenario: A person working in an environment with high exposure to animal products develops difficulty breathing. Upon examination, it's found that he has inhalational anthrax. A pulmonologist would be the key medical professional in treating this patient.
3. Dermatology: Cutaneous anthrax, which affects the skin, is the most common form of the disease. Dermatologists would handle such cases.
Clinical Scenario: A woman develops a black, coal-like lesion on her skin. Examination reveals exposure to anthrax-contaminated leather imported from a high-risk country. A dermatologist would be consulted for diagnosis, management, and treatment of the cutaneous anthrax.
Please note that the mentioned ICD-10 code (A22) for anthrax is non-billable and should be elaborated further (as A22.0, A22.1, etc.) to make it a valid billable code.
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 CPT Codes
I'm sorry for any confusion, but I cannot provide a list of CPT codes that are commonly paired with the ICD-10 code A22, because this is a non-billable code. Non-billable codes, also known as header codes, are used for statistical purposes and they are not valid for any form of reimbursement. Typically, a more specific code is further down the list to be crosswalked to additional CPT codes for billing purposes.
However, A22 is a category code for anthrax, so here are some potential CPT codes that might be related to procedures or services provided to a patient with an anthrax infection:
1. 99203 - Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient. Clinical Scenario: A patient with suspected anthrax infection visiting the doctor for the first time for evaluation.
2. 99213 - Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient. Clinical Scenario: A patient with confirmed anthrax infection has a follow-up appointment to monitor treatment progress.
3. 90714 - Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) adsorbed, preservative free, when administered to individuals 7 years or older, for intramuscular use. Clinical Scenario: A patient is given a Td vaccine amidst an outbreak of anthrax to prevent contrarily preventable diseases.
4. 87070 - Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood or stool, aerobic with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates. Clinical Scenario: A patient suspected of having anthrax has a sample collected for bacterial culture to confirm the diagnosis.
5. 36415 - Collection of venous blood by venipuncture. Clinical Scenario: Blood is drawn from a patient with suspected anthrax for testing.
Please remember that clinical procedures chosen for patients will be based on each individual patient's condition and diagnosis, and the ICD-10 and CPT codes used will be based on that chosen pathway of care. Always check with coding professionals and guidelines to ensure that the chosen path is clinically justifiable and that coding is accurate.
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
1. World Health Organization (WHO): WHO maintains the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and updates it regularly. It provides comprehensive information which includes detailed descriptions, rules, and guidelines on all codes, including A22.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): CDC offers a wealth of information about ICD-10 codes, including guidelines and detailed coding instructions.
3. American Medical Association (AMA): The ICD-10 codes are widely used by members of AMA so they provide helpful resources on code implementation, compliance, and updates.
4. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS): A part of the CDC, NCHS offers authoritative reference material on ICD-10 codes including coding guidelines and official updates.
5. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA): AHIMA provides education and resources to health information professionals who often use ICD-10 codes. Their resources include coding education, practice guidelines, and advocacy resources.
6. American Hospital Association (AHA): The AHA provides resources on clinical coding, including ICD-10 codes, and shares clinical documentation improvement strategies.
7. ICD10Data.com: It is a free reference website that provides an intuitive search for ICD-10 codes. This will make searching codes like A22 a lot easier especially to those who are unfamiliar with the medical coding system.
Coding & Billing References
1. World Health Organization (WHO): WHO maintains the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and updates it regularly. It provides comprehensive information which includes detailed descriptions, rules, and guidelines on all codes, including A22.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): CDC offers a wealth of information about ICD-10 codes, including guidelines and detailed coding instructions.
3. American Medical Association (AMA): The ICD-10 codes are widely used by members of AMA so they provide helpful resources on code implementation, compliance, and updates.
4. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS): A part of the CDC, NCHS offers authoritative reference material on ICD-10 codes including coding guidelines and official updates.
5. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA): AHIMA provides education and resources to health information professionals who often use ICD-10 codes. Their resources include coding education, practice guidelines, and advocacy resources.
6. American Hospital Association (AHA): The AHA provides resources on clinical coding, including ICD-10 codes, and shares clinical documentation improvement strategies.
7. ICD10Data.com: It is a free reference website that provides an intuitive search for ICD-10 codes. This will make searching codes like A22 a lot easier especially to those who are unfamiliar with the medical coding system.
