J45.42
BillableModerate persistent asthma with status asthmaticus
HCC Category Mapping
RxHCCHCC 229 — COPD and Chronic Bronchitis
0.000What This Code Means
Moderate persistent asthma with status asthmaticus, a severe, life-threatening asthma attack unresponsive to standard treatment.
Coding Tips
- •Status asthmaticus represents a medical emergency requiring intensive intervention
- •Ensure documentation supports the severity level and lack of response to initial treatment
Clinical Significance
Moderate persistent asthma with status asthmaticus is a medical emergency indicating that a patient with moderate persistent baseline asthma is experiencing a severe, treatment-refractory attack requiring intensive care. This life-threatening presentation demands immediate aggressive intervention and strongly suggests the need to reassess baseline severity classification.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation of status asthmaticus
- ✓Baseline asthma severity classified as moderate persistent
- ✓Evidence of treatment-refractory bronchospasm: multiple nebulizer treatments, IV medications
- ✓ICU admission and monitoring documentation
- ✓Respiratory parameters: arterial blood gas, ventilator settings if intubated
- ✓Reassessment of baseline severity classification after stabilization
Commonly Confused Codes
J45.41 — Moderate persistent asthma with acute exacerbation: use when the attack responds to treatmentJ45.52 — Severe persistent asthma with status asthmaticus: use when baseline is severe persistentJ45.902 — Unspecified asthma with status asthmaticus: less specific; prefer severity-classified codeJ96.0x — Acute respiratory failure: code additionally when present