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N39.3
ICD-10-CM
Urinary Stress Incontinence

Find information on Urinary Stress Incontinence diagnosis, including clinical documentation tips, ICD-10 codes (N39.3), medical coding guidelines, and healthcare provider resources. Learn about symptoms, treatment options, and best practices for documenting Urinary Stress Incontinence in patient charts for accurate reimbursement. Explore resources for managing and coding this condition effectively in a clinical setting.

Also known as

Stress Urinary Incontinence
SUI

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Involuntary urine leakage with exertion, sneezing, or coughing due to weakened pelvic floor muscles.
  • Clinical Signs : Leakage with increased abdominal pressure, no urge to void, normal post-void residual.
  • Common Settings : Primary care, urology, gynecology, pelvic floor physical therapy.

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC N39.3 Coding
N39.3

Stress incontinence female

Involuntary urine leakage with exertion like coughing.

N39.4

Mixed incontinence female

Involuntary urine leakage with urgency and exertion.

R32

Unspecified incontinence

Involuntary urine leakage, type unspecified.

OAB

Overactive bladder

Urgency with or without incontinence, often with frequency.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

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

Is the urinary stress incontinence predominately urge incontinence?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Involuntary urine leakage with effort/exertion.
Involuntary urine leakage with urgency.
Involuntary urine leakage, mixed causes.

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Urinary stress incontinence diagnosis documented
  • Symptom onset, frequency, and severity noted
  • Pelvic exam findings documented
  • Impact on patient's quality of life described
  • Associated symptoms or contributing factors listed

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Incontinence Type

    Coding N39.3 (Urinary incontinence, unspecified) without proper documentation of stress incontinence subtype. Impacts reimbursement and quality metrics.

  • Overlooked Contributing Factors

    Missing secondary diagnoses like childbirth complications or pelvic floor disorders. Affects risk adjustment and care planning.

  • Unconfirmed Stress Test Result

    Lack of documented urodynamic testing to confirm stress incontinence diagnosis. Leads to coding errors and potential denials.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Document UI severity & frequency using ICD-10 N79.4, focusing on impact.
  • Detailed pelvic exam notes are crucial for accurate diagnosis coding (N79.4).
  • Standardized incontinence questionnaires improve CDI & support N79.4 specificity.
  • Track conservative treatments before surgery for compliance & coding accuracy.
  • Bladder diary data strengthens clinical justification for N79.4 and interventions.

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • Confirm involuntary urine loss with exertion (cough, sneeze, lift).
  • Document pelvic exam findings: prolapse, urethral mobility.
  • Assess patient history: childbirth, menopause, medications.
  • Consider cough stress test, bladder diary for symptom frequency.

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Urinary Stress Incontinence reimbursement hinges on accurate ICD-10 (N39.3) and CPT coding for procedures like urodynamics (51798), slings (57288), injections (51725). Optimize coding for maximum reimbursement.
  • Quality metrics for Urinary Stress Incontinence include patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) like ICIQ-UI SF and quality of life assessments. Accurate documentation impacts hospital reporting and value-based care.
  • Timely and specific documentation of Urinary Stress Incontinence symptoms, severity, and treatment response is crucial for proper coding, claim validation, and minimizing claim denials.
  • Leakage episodes, pad usage, and quality of life impact should be documented for Urinary Stress Incontinence to support medical necessity for procedures and improve reimbursement rates.

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 N39.3 for Stress UI
  • Document symptom details
  • Query physician if unclear
  • Exclude other incontinence
  • Consider contributing factors

Documentation Templates

Subjective: Patient presents with complaints of involuntary urine leakage with physical exertion, sneezing, coughing, and laughing, consistent with urinary stress incontinence symptoms.  She reports this has been ongoing for approximately two years and is progressively worsening, now impacting her quality of life and limiting her physical activities.  She denies dysuria, hematuria, frequency, urgency, or nocturia.  Patient reports no history of pelvic surgery, trauma, or neurological disorders.  Obstetric history includes two vaginal deliveries.  Current medications include lisinopril for hypertension.  Allergies:  NKDA.

Objective:  Physical exam reveals no abnormalities.  Pelvic exam demonstrates normal external genitalia, mild anterior vaginal wall prolapse, and good pelvic floor muscle strength with a cough stress test positive for urine leakage.  Urinalysis is negative for infection.  Post-void residual volume is within normal limits.  Assessment:  Urinary stress incontinence (USI), likely secondary to pelvic floor weakness. Differential diagnoses considered include overactive bladder and mixed urinary incontinence.  ICD-10 code N39.3, Stress incontinence, female.

Plan:  Discussed conservative management options for urinary stress incontinence including pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises), lifestyle modifications such as weight loss and fluid management, and bladder training techniques.  Patient education provided regarding the benefits and potential risks of these treatments.  Patient agrees to begin a trial of pelvic floor therapy.  Follow-up scheduled in six weeks to assess response to conservative therapy.  If symptoms persist, further evaluation and treatment options, such as pessary fitting, urethral bulking agents, or surgical intervention, will be considered.  Referral to urogynecology may be warranted if conservative measures fail.  Patient provided with educational materials on urinary incontinence management.
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