Rheumatoid lung disease w rheumatoid arthritis of unsp wrist

This code signifies a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affecting an unspecified wrist and associated lung disease. The lung involvement is a direct manifestation of the rheumatoid process, not a secondary infection or unrelated pulmonary condition.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of rheumatoid lung disease in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis specifically affecting the wrist, where the laterality of the wrist involvement is not specified. Supporting documentation should include physician notes detailing both the RA diagnosis with wrist involvement and the presence of rheumatoid lung disease, often confirmed by imaging or pulmonary function tests.

• Ensure documentation explicitly links the lung disease to the rheumatoid arthritis.
• Do not use this code if the lung condition is not directly attributed to RA (e.g., pneumonia, COPD).
• If the specific wrist (right or left) is documented, a more specific code from the M05.13- subcategory should be used.