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ICD-10 Coding for Pain in Left Arm(G89.0, G89.21, G89.21U)

Learn about the ICD-10 code M79.602 for pain in the left arm, including documentation requirements, coding pitfalls, and billing considerations.

Also known as:
Left Arm PainPain in Left Upper Limb
Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Pain in Left Arm

M00-M99Primary Range

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue

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Key Information

Essential facts and insights aboutPain in Left Arm

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes
Pain in left ar
M79.602Billable
Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Pain in left upper armM79.621

Use if pain is specifically localized to the upper arm region.

Cervical radiculopathyM54.2

Use if pain radiates from the neck to the arm, confirmed by clinical tests.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Pain in Left Arm.

Failing to document the duration of pain

Impact

Clinical: Inadequate treatment planning, Regulatory: Potential for coding audits, Financial: Risk of claim denials

Mitigation

Always include the onset and duration of pain in documentation, Use structured templates to ensure completeness

Using M79.602 for pain in the shoulder or forearm

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can lead to claim denials, Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines, Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data and reporting

Mitigation

Use M25.512 for shoulder pain and M79.631 for forearm pain

Use of unspecified codes

Impact

Using M79.602 without specifying the exact location of pain

Mitigation

Ensure documentation specifies the exact location of pain

Frequently Asked Questions