Med Billing and Coding

Author: Melissa Grant, CPC

Melissa Grant, CPC, is a Certified Professional Coder specializing in medical billing, coding accuracy, and healthcare revenue cycle management. She shares practical insights on CPT, ICD-10-CM, and billing best practices to help healthcare professionals reduce claim denials and stay compliant with evolving industry regulations.

ICD-10 Code L20.89: Other Atopic Dermatitis – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

ICD-10 code L20.89 designates Other atopic dermatitis — a billable, specific diagnosis code within the atopic dermatitis subcategory (L20.8) that captures clinically confirmed atopic dermatitis presentations that do not map to any of the four named subcategories: atopic neurodermatitis (L20.81), flexural eczema (L20.82), infantile eczema (L20.83), or intrinsic allergic eczema (L20.84). Valid for HIPAA-covered transactions […]

ICD-10 Code L03.311: Cellulitis of Abdominal Wall – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

What Does ICD-10 Code L03.311 Mean? ICD-10 code L03.311 designates a diagnosis of cellulitis of the abdominal wall — a bacterial infection of the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue localized to the anterior or lateral abdominal surface. This code is a billable, valid ICD-10-CM diagnosis code classified under Chapter 12 (Diseases of the Skin and […]

ICD-10 Code K81: Cholecystitis – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

ICD-10 code K81 is the category header for cholecystitis — inflammation of the gallbladder occurring without associated gallstones. K81 itself is not a billable code; it is the parent category. Reimbursable claims require one of the four valid subcodes: K81.0 (acute), K81.1 (chronic), K81.2 (acute with chronic), or K81.9 (unspecified). Selecting the wrong subcode — […]

ICD-10 Code K70.10: Alcoholic Hepatitis Without Ascites – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

ICD-10-CM code K70.10 designates a diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis without ascites — liver inflammation caused by excessive alcohol consumption, confirmed in the absence of abdominal fluid accumulation. This is a billable, valid code applicable to adult patients ages 15–124 and is effective for HIPAA-covered transactions through the current fiscal year per CMS ICD-10-CM guidelines. For […]

ICD-10 Code K05.10: Chronic Gingivitis, Plaque Induced – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

What Does ICD-10 Code K05.10 Mean? ICD-10-CM code K05.10 designates chronic gingivitis, plaque induced — a persistent inflammatory condition of the gingival tissue that is directly attributable to the presence of dental plaque at or below the gumline. This is a billable, valid diagnosis code within the K05 (Gingivitis and Periodontal Diseases) category of the […]

ICD-10 Code J98.11: Atelectasis – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

What Does ICD-10 Code J98.11 Mean? ICD-10 code J98.11 is a billable, specific diagnosis code representing atelectasis — the partial or complete collapse of one or more segments of the lung resulting in reduced or absent air exchange in the affected area. It falls under Chapter 10 (Diseases of the Respiratory System), within the subsection […]

ICD-10 Code J96.10: Chronic Respiratory Failure, Unspecified – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

ICD-10 code J96.10 designates chronic respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia — a billable, valid diagnosis code under the J96.1 subcategory within Chapter 10 (Diseases of the Respiratory System) of the ICD-10-CM classification. This code applies when a provider documents chronic respiratory failure but the clinical record does not specify, or does not […]

ICD-10 Code J80: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – Complete Coding & Billing Guide

What Does ICD-10 Code J80 Mean? ICD-10-CM code J80 — Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome — is a billable, specific diagnosis code used to identify confirmed ARDS in adult and pediatric patients. The 2026 edition of J80 became effective October 1, 2025, and remains valid for all HIPAA-covered transactions through September 30, 2026 with no changes […]