Question

multiple choice question

if a condition is documented as bilateral but there is no appropriate icd-10-cm code for bilaterality, how many codes are assigned?

two
three
none
one

Explanation:

Identify the coding guideline

Using the Laterality in Coding knowledge point

According to the official ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (Section I.B.13 regarding laterality):
If a condition is documented as bilateral but there is no appropriate ICD-10-CM code for bilaterality, the coder should assign separate codes for both the left and right sides. This means a code for the right side and a code for the left side are assigned to fully represent the bilateral nature of the condition.

Determine the number of codes

Using the Laterality in Coding knowledge point

Since separate codes must be assigned for both the right side and the left side to represent the bilateral condition, a total of two codes are assigned.

Answer:

• (A) Two (Correct answer)
• (B) Three
• (C) None
• (D) One