In the Tom Smith encounter, which code represents atrial fibrillation?

In the Tom Smith encounter, which code represents atrial fibrillation?

• A. I25.10
• B. I48.91
• C. I21.29
• D. I50.9

Answer: (B)

The key idea is recognizing that atrial fibrillation is coded within the I48 series of ICD-10-CM codes, which are reserved for atrial arrhythmias. The specific code I48.91 stands for atrial fibrillation, unspecified. Use this when the chart notes AF but does not specify whether it’s paroxysmal, persistent, or another subtype. If the documentation did specify a subtype, you’d select the corresponding code (for example, I48.0 for paroxysmal, I48.1 for persistent, I48.2 for chronic). The other options point to entirely different cardiac conditions: atherosclerotic disease of a native coronary artery, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. They do not describe a rhythm disturbance like atrial fibrillation, so they wouldn’t be appropriate for this scenario.

The key idea is recognizing that atrial fibrillation is coded within the I48 series of ICD-10-CM codes, which are reserved for atrial arrhythmias. The specific code I48.91 stands for atrial fibrillation, unspecified. Use this when the chart notes AF but does not specify whether it’s paroxysmal, persistent, or another subtype. If the documentation did specify a subtype, you’d select the corresponding code (for example, I48.0 for paroxysmal, I48.1 for persistent, I48.2 for chronic).

The other options point to entirely different cardiac conditions: atherosclerotic disease of a native coronary artery, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. They do not describe a rhythm disturbance like atrial fibrillation, so they wouldn’t be appropriate for this scenario.