Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region. M51.36 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
M51.36 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.36 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Pyogenic disc inflammation of lumbar spine; Pyogenic discitis of lumbar spine; Pyogenic infection of lumbar intervertebral disc ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M51.06 [convert to ICD-9-CM] Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, lumbar region
Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region. M51.36 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.36 became effective on October 1, 2020.
The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M48.06 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Spinal stenosis, lumbar region 1 Lumbar spinal stenosis no neurogenic claudication 2 Lumbar spinal stenosis w neurogenic claudication 3 Myelopathy due to spinal stenosis of lumbar region 4 Neurogenic claudication co-occurrent and due to spinal stenosis of lumbar region 5 Neurogenic claudication due to spinal stenosis of lumbar region 6 Spinal stenosis lumbar region 7 Spinal stenosis lumbar region, neurogenic claudicati 8 Spinal stenosis of lumbar region 9 Spinal stenosis of lumbar region with myelopathy 10 Spinal stenosis of lumbar region without neurogenic claudication 11 Spinal stenosis of lumbar spine 12 Stenosis of lumbar spine with myelopathy
Though it is not specifically mentioned, “thoracolumbar” likely only includes T12-L1, and “lumbosacral” probably only refers to the L5-S1 interspace. There is a strange rule for cervical disc disorders indicating that you should code to the most superior level of the disorder.
These spinal disc codes appear to be a bit complex, but with some study and evaluation, the logic used to create them becomes clear. The provider can use the codes to guide proper documentation and the coder then can select the right codes with confidence.
It is already included in the code. Likewise, don’t code sciatica (M54.3-) if you code for lumbar disc with radiculopathy. It would be redundant. On a side note, lumbar radiculopathy (M54.16) might be used if pain is not yet known to be due a disc, but it radiates from the lumbar spine.