Coding the flu consists of the signs and symptoms of flu, the vaccination, and coding the actual disease and its complications
This winter has been a long one for those healthcare workers who have been busy treating flu patients and trying to prevent the flu. On Feb. 7, 2018, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Anne Schuchat, had a briefing with the acting Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, about the status of preparedness in treating the flu. The CDC has been actively monitoring this year’s severe flu season. Hospitalizations have reached their highest levels since the statistic started being monitored in 2010. The severity of the flu has been severe, and its occurrence widespread, across the U.S.
According to the statistics from Week 4, which ended Jan. 27, 2018, the most frequently identified subtype of flu reported was influenza A. Seventeen pediatric deaths related to the flu have occurred. A cumulative rate of influenza-related hospitalizations of 51.4 per 100,000 was reported. The national baseline for influenza-like illness outpatient visits is 2.2 percent, with Week 4’s rate of 7.1 percent being significantly higher. As of November 2017, two of every five adults/children had been vaccinated for the flu, which was on track with statistics from previous seasons.
The coding of the flu consists of the signs and symptoms of flu, the vaccination, and coding the actual disease and its complications. The signs and symptoms of flu with the associated coding includes fever (R50.9), muscle pain (M79.1), fatigue (R53.83), cough (R05), shortness of breath (R06.02), sneezing (R06.7), loss of appetite (R63.0), headache (R51), nasal congestion (R09.81), and ear pain (H92.0-). Mild complications of the flu include ear and sinus infections. Pneumonia is an example of a moderate complication. Serious complications include myocarditis or encephalitis. The most serious complication would be the development of sepsis (A41.9). The code for getting the flu vaccination is Z23, which is the same for any immunization. In October 2017, an ICD-10-PCS code (3E01340) was added to capture the administration of the influenza vaccine.
The coding of influenza could benefit from the application of clinical documentation improvement. There are four types of influenza: types A, B, C, and D. Type A is further broken down into various strains, including novel influenza A or avian; other animal except bird or swine; swine; and other identified influenza not elsewhere classified. Type B can occur in humans and is broken into different strains. Type C influenza causes mild respiratory infections and is not related to any pandemic. Type D virus occurs in cattle and is not transmitted to humans. Associated complications are included with the flu type code, so the resulting code is a combination code. For example, type A flu with myocarditis is assigned (J10.82). The coder should code all of the complications associated with the flu to demonstrate the severity of the patient’s illness. It is important to note that type A influenza is not the same as novel influenza A. The novel influenza has an animal origin. There is a discussion in Coding Clinic, Fourth Quarter 2011, pages 110-114, for additional information.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined a naming convention that has the first letter identifying the virus type. The second portion is the host origin. If the host is human, it is not defined. The third portion of the name indicates the geographical area of origin. The fourth portion indicates the strain number. The fifth portion defines the year of isolation. The sixth portion describes further the hemaggluttin or neuramindase antigen involved. For example: A/duck/Alberta/35/76 (H1N1) would be used for a virus from duck origin.
Here are some tips from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for avoiding common illnesses, including influenza:
Contrary to the verdict of Punxsutawney Phil, let’s hope for an early spring!
The Trump Administration has put a hold on a federal program designed to increase oversight of hospice care, which receives over $25 billion annually from
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following last Monday’s Monitor Monday Internet broadcast, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) posted new guidance and an online portal,
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Stop revenue leakage and boost hospital performance by mastering risk adjustment and HCCs. This essential webcast with expert Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CCDS, CDIP, will reveal how inaccurate patient acuity documentation leads to lost reimbursements through penalties from poor quality scores. Learn the critical differences between HCCs and traditional CCs/MCCs, adapt your CDI workflows, and ensure accurate payments in Medicare Advantage and value-based care models. Perfect for HIM leaders, coders, and CDI professionals. Don’t miss this chance to protect your hospital’s revenue and reputation!
Struggling with ICD-10-CM coding for diabetes and complications? This expert-led webcast clarifies complex combination codes, documentation gaps, and sequencing rules to reduce denials and ensure compliance. Dr. Angela Comfort will provide actionable strategies to accurately link diabetes to complications, improve provider documentation, and optimize reimbursement—helping coders, CDI specialists, and HIM leaders minimize audit risks and strengthen revenue integrity. Don’t miss this chance to master diabetes coding with real-world case studies, key takeaways, and live Q&A!
Uncover critical guidance. Kay Piper provides an interactive review on coding guidelines and more in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2025 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance. Kay Piper provides an interactive review on coding guidelines and more in the AHA’s third quarter 2025 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Struggling with CMS’s 3-Day Payment Window? Join compliance expert Michael G. Calahan, PA, MBA, CCO, to master billing restrictions for pre-admission and inter-facility services. Learn how to avoid audit risks, optimize revenue cycle workflows, and ensure compliance across departments. Critical for C-suite leaders, providers, coders, revenue cycle teams, and compliance teams—this webcast delivers actionable strategies to protect reimbursements and meet federal regulations.
Providers face increasing Medicare audits when using skin substitute grafts, leaving many unprepared for claim denials and financial liabilities. Join veteran healthcare attorney Andrew B. Wachler, Esq., in this essential webcast and master the Medicare audit process, learn best practices for compliant billing and documentation, and mitigate fraud and abuse risks. With actionable insights and a live Q&A session, you’ll gain the tools to defend your practice and ensure compliance in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Dr. Ronald Hirsch dives into the basics of Medicare for clinicians to be successful as utilization review professionals. He’ll break down what Medicare does and doesn’t pay for, what services it provides and how hospitals get paid for providing those services – including both inpatient and outpatient. Learn how claims are prepared and how much patients must pay for their care. By attending our webcast, you will gain a new understanding of these issues and be better equipped to talk to patients, to their medical staff, and to their administrative team.
Hospitals face growing challenges in measuring observation metrics due to inconsistencies in classification, payer policies, and benchmarking practices. Join Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM, and Anuja Mohla, DO, FACP, MBA, ACPA-C, CHCQM-PHYADV as they provide critical insights into refining observation metrics. This webcast will address key issues affecting observation data integrity and offer strategies for improving consistency in reporting. You will learn how to define meaningful metrics, clarify commonly misinterpreted terms, and apply best practices for benchmarking, and gain actionable strategies to enhance observation data reliability, mitigate financial risk, and drive better decision-making.
Copyright © 2025 RACmonitor. Powered by MedLearn Media.
Celebrate Lab Week with MedLearn! Sign up to win one year of our Laboratory All Access Pass! Click here to learn more →
Prepare for the 2025 CMS IPPS Final Rule with ICD10monitor’s IPPSPalooza! Click HERE to learn more
Get 15% OFF on all educational webcasts at ICD10monitor with code JULYFOURTH24 until July 4, 2024—start learning today!
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
