Reports from Kidney.org, suggests that 1 in 3 American adults is at high risk for developing kidney disease. There are different types of kidney diseases and Glomerulonephritis is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that involves damage to the glomeruli (tiny filters inside the kidneys). Patients have to undergo certain diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the disease. Medical claim submission is necessary for accurate physician reimbursement and effective patient care. Nephrologists and other specialists treating Glomerulonephritis can benefit from outsourced medical billing and coding services to report the condition accurately on the medical claims.
Many conditions can cause glomerulonephritis. In certain cases, the disease runs in families and in such cases the exact cause remains unknown. On the other hand, the condition can also occur on its own or as part of other diseases (like diabetes or lupus, infections). Treatment for the condition depends on the type of glomerulonephritis and its related causes. If left untreated, glomerulonephritis can affect the ability of nephrons to filter the bloodstream efficiently resulting in possible complications like – acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, loss of red blood cells and blood proteins.
Types of Glomerulonephritis and Symptoms
Glomerulonephritis can be acute or chronic. The acute form develops suddenly and can be due to infections (such as strep throat or an abscessed tooth) or problems with the immune system. Chronic glomerulonephritis, on the other hand, does not always have a clear cause. It occurs slowly and lasts a while. Symptoms of glomerulonephritis may vary from person to person and depend on the type – whether it is acute or chronic. Common symptoms include -
- Urinating less than usual
- Pink urine from red blood cells in the urine (hematuria)
- Nausea, vomiting and fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Foamy or bubbly urine due to excess protein in the urine (proteinuria)
- Fluid retention (edema) with swelling (evident in the face, hands, feet and abdomen)
How Is Glomerulonephritis Diagnosed and Treated?
As blood and protein are important markers for the disease, a urinalysis test may be recommended to identify the signs of poor kidney function. Analysis of blood samples can determine the levels of waste products in the bloodstream, presence of antibodies and other bacterial or viral infections. In addition, imaging tests such as X-ray, ultrasound exam or CT scan may be performed to identify any possible irregularity in the shape or size of the kidney. In certain cases, kidney biopsy may be performed to confirm a diagnosis and to assess the degree and nature of tissue damage. Treatment for this condition may depend on the type of glomerulonephritis (whether it is acute or chronic), underlying causes and the type and severity of symptoms. Common treatment options include - kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Nephrology medical billing and coding is challenging, as it involves numerous rules related to reporting the procedure accurately. Nephrologists treating this kidney condition must use the relevant ICD-10 codes to bill for the procedure correctly. ICD-10 diagnosis codes for glomerulonephritis include –
N04 Nephrotic syndrome
- N04.0 Nephrotic syndrome with minor glomerular abnormality
- N04.1 Nephrotic syndrome with focal and segmental glomerular lesions
- N04.2 Nephrotic syndrome with diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis
- N04.3 Nephrotic syndrome with diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis
- N04.4 Nephrotic syndrome with diffuse endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis
- N04.5 Nephrotic syndrome with diffuse mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis
- N04.6 Nephrotic syndrome with dense deposit disease
- N04.7 Nephrotic syndrome with diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis
- N04.8 Nephrotic syndrome with other morphologic changes
- N04.9 Nephrotic syndrome with unspecified morphologic changes
- N04.A Nephrotic syndrome with C3 glomerulonephritis
Generally, most forms of glomerulonephritis cannot be prevented, but there are certain ways to reduce the amount of risk. Selecting a healthy lifestyle combined with exercise and diet can reduce the risk of glomerulonephritis as well as the risk of other infections and hypertension. Billing and coding for nephrology conditions can be challenging for nephrologists and their office team. Providers treating this condition can consider the services provided by experienced medical billing and coding companies to submit their claims with up-to-date codes. Submitting accurate claims can prevent claim denials and ensure optimal reimbursement. For more details please visit https://www.outsourcestrategies.com/
