Food allergy, a reaction triggered by the immune system can be documented accurately in physician’s medical claims using specific ICD-10 codes.

1. Food allergy, a reaction triggered by
the immune system can be
documented accurately in physician’s
medical claims using specific ICD-10
codes.
Documenting Food Allergies –
Use the Right ICD-10 Codes
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Just like any other specialty, allergy and sleep medicine medical billing requires the use of
the right diagnosis codes to ensure timely reimbursement for physicians .Food allergies
occur when the immune system overreacts to substances in the food consumed, causing an
allergic reaction. Most common in babies and children, allergy to foods can appear at any
age. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma &Immunology, more than 50
million Americans have an allergy of some kind.
Other Relevant Statistics
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Food allergies are estimated
to affect 4 to 6 percent of children and 4 percent of adults.
• Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) - This potentially deadly disease affects 1
in every 13 children (under 18 years of age) in the U.S. Every 3 minutes, a food
allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency department.
Common Foods Causing Allergies and Codes to Document Them
The most common foods that cause allergies include eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish,
shellfish, wheat and soy. Symptoms may include reddening of the skin, hives, itchy skin,
swollen lips or eyelids, tightness of the throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, coughing,
vomiting, or diarrhea.
While documenting food allergies, coding specialists at physician offices or medical billing
companies must make sure to choose the billable/specific ICD-10-CM codes that suitthe
specific condition.
• Z91.01 - Food allergy status
• Z91.02 - Food additives allergy status
• Z91.010 - Allergy to peanuts
• Z91.011 - Allergy to milk products
• Z91.012 - Allergy to eggs
• Z91.013 - Allergy to seafood
• Z91.018 - Allergy to other foods
Anaphylaxis - Severe Allergic Reaction
Among the symptoms caused by food allergy, anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction. This
reaction can occur within minutes of exposure to the trigger food and can impair breathing,
cause a dramatic drop in blood pressure and even affect heart rate.

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Medical record coding for this specific reaction can include
• T78.0 - Anaphylactic reaction due to food
• T78.01 - Anaphylactic reaction due to peanuts
• T78.02 - Anaphylactic reaction due to shellfish (crustaceans)
• T78.03 - Anaphylactic reaction due to other fish
• T78.04 - Anaphylactic reaction due to fruits and vegetables
• T78.05 - Anaphylactic reaction due to tree nuts and seeds
• T78.06 - Anaphylactic reaction due to food additives
• T78.07 - Anaphylactic reaction due to milk and dairy products
• T78.08 - Anaphylactic reaction due to eggs
• T78.09 - Anaphylactic reaction due to other food products
An allergist may recommend allergy tests and allergy blood test for a perfect diagnosis.
Proven diagnosis tests include Skin prick test, Blood test, Oral food challenge or Trial
elimination diet. Certain medicines prescribed include antihistamines for mild reactions and
epinephrine for serious reactions. However, there is no cure for food allergies. The primary
way to manage a food allergy is to avoid consuming the food that causes you problems.