January is observed as “Thyroid Awareness Month” in the United States to spread awareness about the health and function of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland responsible for producing hormones that regulate body’s metabolism in many ways. The hormones produced by the gland help the body use energy and stay warm, and keeps the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should. So it is essential to ensure that the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly. However, it is estimated that more than one in eight Americans will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime and up to 60% are unaware of it.

Once a thyroid disorder is recognized, it is crucial to get started with the thyroid treatment, which include a combination of medications and in extreme cases a thyroid surgery, immediately. Endocrinologists and other specialists providing treatment for different types of thyroid disorders need to know how to code and bill their services. They can rely on medical billing and coding services to correctly connect their services with billing codes related to a diagnosis and ensure accurate claims submission.

Found at the base of the neck, the thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones which influence how all other cells, tissues, and organs function. Dysfunction occurs when the thyroid produces either too much or too little thyroid hormone. This can disrupt the healthy functioning of vital organs and lead to a wide range of symptoms. Women are 5-8 times more likely than men to experience thyroid problems – 1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime (saintjohnscancer.org).

According to National Today, it’s estimated that over 30 million Americans have thyroid dysfunction, yet at least half of these cases are undiagnosed and, consequently, untreated. It is important that people can recognize the early signs and symptoms of the disorder. The early warning signs of hyperthyroidism of an overactive thyroid includes racing heart rate, palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, weight loss with increased appetite, excessive sweating/heat intolerance, and muscle weakness. Hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms that develop as the condition progresses include fatigue / sluggishness (mental and physical), cold intolerance, constipation, hair loss, weight gain, depression. The signs of thyroid nodules/cancer include an unusual lump or swelling in the neck and other warning signs include a new cough, hoarseness, swollen glands and a new persistent cough.

Blood tests such as TSH, T4, T3 and Free T3 tests measure thyroid hormones and evaluate thyroid function. However not all blood tests are useful in all situations. Other options to assess and treat thyroid dysfunction include Thyroid ultrasound, Thyroid biopsies, Parathyroid imaging, Parathyroidectomy, Thyroidectomy and neck dissection, Laparoscopic and open adrenalectomy, Radioactive iodine, Hormonal therapy, Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation and Radiation oncology.

Treatment for thyroid disorders aims to restore normal thyroid hormone levels. Treatment modalities for this condition include – anti-thyroid medications, thyroid hormone pills, injecting this thyroid-stimulating agent, radioactive iodine therapy (that disables the thyroid), and even thyroid surgery to remove part of, or the entire gland (in extreme cases). Once diagnosed and successfully treated, it’s entirely possible for the person to live a normal, healthy life.

To correctly diagnose the symptoms and report the screening tests and other procedures performed, it is necessary that the endocrinologists and other specialists treating different types of thyroid disorders use the correct medical codes. Relying on a medical billing company offering endocrinology medical billing and coding services can ensure accurate claim submission.

Here are ICD-10 codes for different types of thyroid disorders:

• E00-E07 Disorders of thyroid gland
  • E00 – Congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome
    • E00.0 – Congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome, neurological type
    • E00.1 – Congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome, myxedematous type
    • E00.2 – Congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome, mixed type
    • E00.9 – Congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome, unspecified
  • E01 – Iodine-deficiency related thyroid disorders and allied conditions
    • E01.0 – Iodine-deficiency related diffuse (endemic) goiter
    • E01.1 – Iodine-deficiency related multinodular (endemic) goiter
    • E01.2 – Iodine-deficiency related (endemic) goiter, unspecified
    • E01.8 – Other iodine-deficiency related thyroid disorders and allied conditions
  • E02 – Subclinical iodine-deficiency hypothyroidism
  • E03 – Other hypothyroidism
    • E03.0 – Congenital hypothyroidism with diffuse goiter
    • E03.1 – Congenital hypothyroidism without goiter
    • E03.2 – Hypothyroidism due to medicaments and other exogenous substances
    • E03.3 – Post infectious hypothyroidism
    • E03.4 – Atrophy of thyroid (acquired)
    • E03.5 – Myxedema coma
    • E03.8 – Other specified hypothyroidism
    • E03.9 – Hypothyroidism, unspecified
  • E04 – Other nontoxic goiter
    • E04.0 – Nontoxic diffuse goiter
    • E04.1 – Nontoxic single thyroid nodule
    • E04.2 – Nontoxic multinodular goiter
    • E04.8 – Other specified nontoxic goiter
    • E04.9 – Nontoxic goiter, unspecified
  • E05 – Thyrotoxicosis [hyperthyroidism]
    • E05.0 – Thyrotoxicosis with diffuse goiter
    • E05.1 – Thyrotoxicosis with toxic single thyroid nodule
    • E05.2 – Thyrotoxicosis with toxic multinodular goiter
    • E05.3 – Thyrotoxicosis from ectopic thyroid tissue
    • E05.4 – Thyrotoxicosis factitia
    • E05.8 – Other thyrotoxicosis
    • E05.9 – Thyrotoxicosis, unspecified
  • E06 – Thyroiditis
    • E06.0 – Acute thyroiditis
    • E06.1 – Sub acute thyroiditis
    • E06.2 – Chronic thyroiditis with transient thyrotoxicosis
    • E06.3 – Autoimmune thyroiditis
    • E06.4 – Drug-induced thyroiditis
    • E06.5 – Other chronic thyroiditis
    • E06.9 – Thyroiditis, unspecified
  • E07 – Other disorders of thyroid
    • E07.0 – Hypersecretion of calcitonin
    • E07.1 – Dyshormogenetic goiter
    • E07.8 – Other specified disorders of thyroid
    • E07.9 – Disorder of thyroid, unspecified

This year, let’s observe Thyroid Awareness Month by understanding the vital purpose of the thyroid gland and spread awareness about thyroid disorders. Encourage people around you to get tested and seek early treatment.