ICD-10: Watch for Product, Addiction Clues for Nicotine Dependence Coding

Choices expand from 305.1 to F17.2-- beginning Oct. 1, 2013.

When the family physician sees a patient who is nicotine dependent (to the detriment of the patient's health or social functioning), you have one diagnosis choice: 305.1 (Nondependent abuse of drugs; tobacco use disorder). Once ICD-10 goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2013, however, you'll modify your tobacco use disorder coding in several ways.

You'll start with code series F17.2 (Nicotine dependence). Because specificity is a key factor of ICD-10, check the physician's documentation for more details about the patient's situation.

• The fifth digit in the F17.2 series indicates the tobacco [...]
  
  - Published on 2012-01-10