G71.038
BillableOther limb girdle muscular dystrophy
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 197 — Muscular Dystrophy
0.000V24HCC 76 — Muscular Dystrophy
0.358ESRDHCC 76 — Muscular Dystrophy
0.000What This Code Means
A genetic muscle weakness disorder affecting the hip and shoulder muscles caused by a known genetic defect other than those specifically listed in the classification system.
Coding Tips
- •Document the specific genetic cause in the medical record even if a more specific code is not available
- •Consider requesting a code clarification from the provider if the genetic basis is identified
Clinical Significance
Other limb girdle muscular dystrophy captures identified limb girdle muscular dystrophy subtypes that have a known genetic cause but do not have their own specific ICD-10-CM code. As new genetic subtypes continue to be identified, this code serves as a catch-all for genetically confirmed but unclassified types. Accurate coding reflects the progressive nature and care burden of these conditions.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Genetic testing identifying the specific mutation causing the limb girdle dystrophy
- ✓Documentation of the specific genetic subtype in the medical record even without a dedicated code
- ✓Clinical presentation: distribution and severity of weakness
- ✓Functional status assessment
- ✓Exclusion of subtypes that have specific codes (calpain-3, dysferlin, sarcoglycan, anoctamin-5)
- ✓Provider's explicit diagnosis with the genetic or pathologic basis specified
Commonly Confused Codes
G71.039 — Limb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified is for when the genetic cause is unknown, not for known but unclassified subtypesG71.032-G71.035 — Specific limb girdle subtypes should be used when those particular mutations are identifiedG71.09 — Other specified muscular dystrophies is for non-limb girdle types of muscular dystrophyG71.00 — Muscular dystrophy, unspecified is far too broad when limb girdle type is confirmed
Code Hierarchy
└G71Primary disorders of muscles└G71.0Muscular dystrophy└G71.03Limb girdle muscular dystrophies└G71.038Other limb girdle muscular dystrophy
└G71.038Other limb girdle muscular dystrophy