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 2019 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.36 became effective on October 1, 2018.
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.
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
Degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc. Degenerative disc disease, lower back. Lumbar disc degeneration. ICD-10-CM M51.36 is grouped within Diagnostic Related Group (s) (MS-DRG v38.0): 551 Medical back problems with mcc. 552 Medical back problems without mcc. Convert M51.36 to ICD-9-CM.
Degeneration of intervertebral disc of lower back; Degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc; Degenerative disc disease, lower back; Lumbar disc degeneration ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M51.06 [convert to ICD-9-CM] Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, lumbar region
722.51 is the correct diagnosis code for thoracic degenerative disc disease. 722.52 is the accurate diagnosis code for DDD of the lumbar or lumbosacral intervertebral disc.
M51. 86 - Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbar region | ICD-10-CM.
Code M54. 5 is the diagnosis code used for Low Back Pain (LBP). This is sometimes referred to as lumbago.
ICD-10 code M19. 90 for Unspecified osteoarthritis, unspecified site is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Arthropathies .
Only use the fourth character “9” for unspecified disc disorders if the documentation does not indicate anything more than the presence of a disc problem. But beware, payors are expected to ask for clarification if unspecified or “NOS” codes are used.
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.
9 = unspecified disc disorder. The fifth character provides detail about the anatomical location within the spinal region. A basic knowledge of spinal anatomy should make fifth-character selection easy, but only if it is documented properly. This includes transitionary regions.
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.