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A09
ICD-10-CM
Gastroenterocolitis

Find comprehensive information on gastroenterocolitis, including clinical documentation, medical coding, ICD-10 codes, symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis. This resource offers guidance for healthcare professionals on accurately documenting and coding gastroenterocolitis cases, covering both infectious and non-infectious causes. Learn about the appropriate medical terminology, diagnostic criteria, and best practices for managing this condition in a clinical setting. Explore resources for gastroenterocolitis treatment and patient care.

Also known as

Infectious gastroenteritis
Toxic gastroenteritis
Radiation-induced gastroenteritis

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC A09 Coding
A08-A09

Infectious gastroenteritis and colitis

Infections causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

K52

Other nonspecific gastroenteritis and colitis

Gastrointestinal inflammation not caused by infection or specific disease.

K50-K51

Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Infectious gastroenterocolitis?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Inflammation of stomach and intestines
Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)
Food poisoning (bacterial gastroenteritis)

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Gastroenterocolitis diagnosis: document symptoms onset, duration, and characteristics.
  • Specify vomiting frequency, stool consistency, and presence of blood or mucus.
  • Document hydration status (e.g., skin turgor, mucous membranes, urine output).
  • Include relevant history: travel, diet, sick contacts, prior episodes.
  • ICD-10 code for gastroenterocolitis: document acuity (e.g., acute, chronic).

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Etiology

    Coding gastroenterocolitis without specifying infectious vs. non-infectious etiology leads to inaccurate data and potential DRG misclassification.

  • Dehydration Coding

    Failing to capture dehydration as a secondary diagnosis with gastroenterocolitis impacts severity and resource utilization reporting.

  • Pediatric Specificity

    Inaccurate coding of pediatric gastroenterocolitis (e.g., infantile vs. allergic) can affect quality metrics and reimbursement.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Document specific symptoms, duration, and severity for accurate ICD-10 coding (e.g., R10.X).
  • Ensure physician documentation supports gastroenterocolitis diagnosis for CDI and medical necessity.
  • Query physician for clarification if documentation lacks detail for proper coding and reimbursement.
  • Include causative organism if known (e.g., viral, bacterial) to improve coding specificity.
  • Adhere to compliance guidelines for appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment documentation.

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • Verify acute onset of vomiting OR diarrhea
  • Document stool characteristics frequency and volume
  • Assess for dehydration signs HR BP CRT skin turgor
  • Consider infectious causes travel history exposures
  • Rule out other diagnoses appendicitis IBD obstruction

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Gastroenterocolitis reimbursement hinges on accurate ICD-10-CM coding (A08, A09) and supporting documentation for medical necessity.
  • Coding quality impacts MS-DRG assignment and case mix index (CMI) for gastroenterocolitis, affecting hospital reimbursement.
  • Timely and specific documentation of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance improves gastroenterocolitis reimbursement.
  • Gastroenterocolitis quality metrics track readmission rates, potentially impacting value-based purchasing programs.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes. Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code primary cause if known
  • Document symptom duration
  • Specify infectious agent if confirmed
  • Query physician for clarity if needed
  • Consider K52.9 for unspecified

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with acute gastroenterocolitis, characterized by symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.  Onset of symptoms began approximately [number] [time unit] prior to presentation.  Frequency of diarrhea is described as [frequency description, e.g., three times per day, watery and loose].  Nausea is [severity, e.g., constant, intermittent] and emesis has occurred [number] times, described as [character of emesis, e.g., bilious, non-bloody].  Patient reports [presence or absence] of abdominal pain or cramping, localized to [location if present].  Fever is [present or absent], measured at [temperature if present].  Patient denies recent travel history.  Recent dietary intake includes [brief description of recent food intake].  Hydration status appears [assessment of hydration, e.g., well-hydrated, mildly dehydrated].  Vital signs:  Heart rate [heart rate], blood pressure [blood pressure], respiratory rate [respiratory rate], temperature [temperature].  Physical examination reveals [relevant findings, e.g., mild diffuse abdominal tenderness, hyperactive bowel sounds].  Differential diagnosis includes viral gastroenteritis, bacterial gastroenteritis, and food poisoning.  Assessment:  Acute gastroenterocolitis likely secondary to [presumed etiology, e.g., viral infection]. Plan:  Patient education regarding oral rehydration therapy and dietary modifications.  Prescribed antiemetic medication [medication name and dosage].  Stool studies not indicated at this time given likely viral etiology.  Follow-up recommended if symptoms worsen or persist beyond [timeframe].  Return precautions reviewed, including signs of dehydration and persistent vomiting.  ICD-10 code:  [appropriate ICD-10 code, e.g., A08.4].
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