Underdosing of emollients, demulcents and protectants, subs

This code indicates that a patient is experiencing adverse effects or complications due to not taking enough of their prescribed emollient, demulcent, or protectant medication. This underdosing is occurring during a follow-up visit for the initial problem caused by the insufficient medication. Examples include inadequate management of dry skin, eczema, or compromised skin barriers due to insufficient application or ingestion of these agents.

Use this code when a patient presents for ongoing care related to a condition exacerbated by the underdosing of emollients, demulcents, or protectants. This applies to situations where the underdosing is not the initial event but rather a contributing factor during a subsequent encounter. For instance, a patient returning for continued treatment of severe dermatitis that is not improving because they are consistently under-applying their prescribed cream.

• Always sequence this code after the code for the specific condition being treated (e.g., eczema, dermatitis).
• Ensure documentation clearly states "underdosing" and specifies the type of medication (emollient, demulcent, or protectant).
• The "D" seventh character signifies a subsequent encounter, meaning the patient is receiving routine care during the healing or recovery phase.