• Acidosis is often underdiagnosed by providers because it frequently occurs with other disease processes like sepsis.
    • Lactic acidosis is not considered integral to sepsis so it can also be reported as an additional diagnosis when clinically indicated.
  • Beginning October 1, 2022, the ICD-10 code set has expanded its ability to capture acidosis. Previously, all types of acidosis were reported with the same ICD-10 code. The one code for acidosis (E87.2) has been expanded into four different codes beginning October 1, 2022.
    • If lactic acidosis or metabolic acidosis is documented the code for acidosis, unspecified will be reported.
    • Metabolic acidosis should now be further specified as acute or chronic for accurate code assignment.
      • Acute metabolic acidosis will be coded as acute metabolic acidosis.
      • Chronic metabolic acidosis will be coded as chronic metabolic acidosis.
      • Metabolic acidosis will be coded as acidosis, unspecified.
    • If respiratory acidosis is documented, the code for other acidosis will be reported.
    • BUT, and this is a significant change:
      • If acute respiratory acidosis is documented. the code for acute respiratory failure with hypercapnia will be reported (J96.02).
      • If chronic respiratory acidosis is documented, chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia will be reported (J96.12).

Download the complete tip, Acidosis.