Guidelines for Coding Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cerebral Infarction
Mar. 11, 2022 Update: This communication has been edited to include two resource links.
August 11, 2021 Update: This communication has been reposted for further awareness to providers. This update was originally posted on August 4, 2021.
As a resource for providers, coders and practice managers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has created a brief education document to describe the proper coding for Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) and Cerebral Infarction (CVA). The guide below aims to assist with accurate, complete documentation & coding that reflects the true nature of a patient’s current health status at the highest level of specificity.
Per ICD-10 official guidelines for reporting and coding “Personal history codes explain a patient’s past medical condition that no longer exists and is not receiving any treatment, but that has the potential for recurrence, and therefore may require continued monitoring. A history of an illness, even if no longer present, is important information that may alter the type of treatment ordered.”
Acute Myocardial Infarction vs. History of MI
| ICD-10 | DESCRIPTION | CODING GUIDANCE | EXAMPLE OF WHEN TO USE OF CODES IN THIS CATEGORY |
| I21.x | STEMI and NSTEMI (Acute) | MI specified as acute or with a stated duration of 4 weeks (28 days) or less from onset | Member hospitalized on 5/2/21 for Acute non-ST MI. Seen by PCP for a follow-up visit on 5/20/21. |
| I22.x | Subsequent MI | Acute MI occurring within 4 weeks (28 days) of a previous acute MI | Member experienced a subsequent non-ST elevation MI less than 3 weeks after the onset of the previous event. |
| I25.2 | Old MI | Healed or past MI diagnosed by ECG or other investigation, currently presenting no symptoms. | Member had MI in 2007 |
| ICD-10 | DESCRIPTION | CODING GUIDANCE | EXAMPLE OF WHEN TO USE OF CODES IN THIS CATEGORY |
| I21.x | STEMI and NSTEMI (Acute) | MI specified as acute or with a stated duration of 4 weeks (28 days) or less from onset | Member hospitalized on 5/2/21 for Acute non-ST MI. Seen by PCP for a follow-up visit on 5/20/21. |
| I22.x | Subsequent MI | Acute MI occurring within 4 weeks (28 days) of a previous acute MI | Member experienced a subsequent non-ST elevation MI less than 3 weeks after the onset of the previous event. |
| I25.2 | Old MI | Healed or past MI diagnosed by ECG or other investigation, currently presenting no symptoms. | Member had MI in 2007 |