New ICD-10-CM Code For Vaping-Related Disorders – Effective April 1
The WHO Family of International Classifications (WHOFIC) Network Classification and Statistics Advisory Committee (CSAC) convened to establish a new emergency code. The ICD 10 code for vaping, U07.0 – Vaping-related disorder, was took effect September 24, 2019. In the U.S., a Supplement to the ICD-10-CM Guidelines, entitled “Coding Encounters Related to E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use,” was available on October 17, 2019. The guideline update provided valuable information on the proper assigning of codes. But, it did not provide a unique code for vaping in ICD-10-CM. For more information regarding the new ICD-10-CM code, U07.0 – Vaping-related disorder, review our Hot Topics course on vaping for 1 CEU. Review the full YES HIM Education Catalog here.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (CDC/NCHS) is also implementing this new diagnosis code to be consistent with the WHO update. The new ICD 10 code for vaping, U07.0 – Vaping-related disorder, will be effective in the U.S. on April 1, 2020. In addition, “proposals for new codes that are intended to address additional detail regarding use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products will be presented at the March 2020 ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting” (CDC, 2019).
Full addenda information for the new ICD 10 code for vaping was available December 2019 on the CDC website. The CDC/CNHS provides more information on the implementation of this new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code.
Vaping ICD 10 Code
According to the CDC, “electronic cigarettes – or e-cigarettes – are also called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)” (CDC, 2020). Using an e-cigarette product is commonly known as “vaping.”
The CDC explains that e-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol. Then, users inhale the aerosol into their lungs (CDC, 2020). This liquid can contain: nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances and additives. THC is the psychoactive, mind-altering compound of marijuana that produces the “high” (CDC, 2020). A dab vape pen vaporizes a liquid form of cannabis, also known as concentrates. U07.0 is the ICD-10 code for vaping marijuana.
The CDC is investigating this outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). All EVALI patients have reported a history of using e-cigarette, or vaping, products (CDC, 2020). According to the CDC, “as of January 14, 2020, a total of 2,668 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported to CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands)” (CDC, 2020).
Recently a breakthrough identifies that Vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern among people with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
THC is present in most of the samples tested by FDA to date, reveals the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (2019). Most patients report a history of using THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Additionally, the site receives frequent updates with information for the public.
Why The U-Code?
The ICD-10 classification has previously used U codes assigned to Chapter XXII, Codes for Special Purposes, (U00-U85). Some examples of categories for U codes used in ICD-10 include: U82-U85 – Resistance to antimicrobial and antineoplastic drugs, U04 – Severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS], and U06 – Zika virus disease. U06-U07 are “active” codes, even though the titles are “Emergency use.” The vaping directive to use U07.0 internationally to represent vaping illustrates the emergency use.
Previously, ICD-10-CM has not used Chapter 22. It is being added so the code set is consistent with that of WHO. The new block of codes (U00-U85) are for special purposes. They identify as “Provisional assignment of new diseases of uncertain etiology or emergency use” (U00-U49). There is also a note at the chapter level that the WHO will use Codes U00-U49. This is for the provisional assignment of new diseases of uncertain etiology.
Review our Hot Topics course on vaping for 1 CEU and more information. Read up on the impending ICD-11 code set. Review the full YES HIM Education Catalog here.
