Anesthesia Coding Alert

ICD-10 will keep additional TBSA code.

Coding burns based on body site and "degree" plus an additional code for total body surface area (TBSA) won't change when you start using ICD-10 in Oct. 2013. The new detail you'll include will be reporting the cause of the burn.

ICD-10 Distinguishes Burn Source

Under ICD-9, a burn is a burn. ICD-10 offers another option by giving you the choice of "corrosion," or chemical burn.

Example: Let's say a patient has a second degree burn of the right thigh from accidentally spilling boiling water. Under ICD-9, you'd report the condition as 945.26 (Blisters with epidermal [...]

- Published on 2012-02-15