Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness of the voluntary muscle groups. The article lists the ICD-10 codes for the condition.

1. Documenting
Myasthenia gravis
with ICD-10 Codes
Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness of
the voluntary muscle groups. The article lists the ICD-10 codes for the
condition.
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Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder
that causes weakness and rapid fatigue in the skeletal muscles (muscles
your body uses for movement). The condition is generally caused by a
breakdown in the normal communication between nerve cells and muscles
which prevents crucial muscle contractions from occurring, resulting in
muscle weakness. MG can affect muscles in most parts of the body.
However, it commonly affects the muscles that control the eyes and eyelids,
facial expressions, chewing, swallowing and speaking. The condition can
affect people of any age group, typically starting in women under the age
group of 40 years and men above 60 years. Symptoms may occur at any
age but they become more apparent during early adulthood. There is no
specific cure for myasthenia gravis, but following a healthy lifestyle and
undergoing timely treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms to a great
extent. Billing and coding for neuromuscular disorders can be complex.
Neurology health practices as well as medical billing and coding
companies should stay up-to-date with the latest billing and coding
changes along with the related medical codes in order to report the right
diagnoses codes on their medical claims.
According to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, MG is the most
common primary disorder of neuromuscular transmission. It is estimated
that this condition affects between 14 and 20 out of every 100,000 people in
the United States. Factors that increase the risks of MG include – fatigue,
stress, illness and use of certain medications such as beta blockers,
quinidine gluconate, quinine (Qualaquin), phenytoin (Dilantin), certain
anesthetics and antibiotics.
What Are the Symptoms of MG?
Weakness in the voluntary skeletal muscles is one of the main symptoms
associated with this condition. The failure of muscles to contract normally

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occurs as they can’t respond to nerve impulses. Without proper transmission
of the impulse, the communication between nerve and muscle is blocked,
resulting in weakness. Other common symptoms of this condition include –
 Trouble talking
 Problems walking up stairs or lifting objects
 Hoarse voice
 Fatigue
 Facial paralysis
 Drooping of one or both eyelids (ptosis)
 Double vision (diplopia)
 Difficulty swallowing or chewing
 Difficulty breathing due to muscle weakness
The type of symptoms and the degree of muscle weakness can change from
day to day and vary from one person to another.
Diagnosing and Treating Myasthenia gravis
Initial diagnosis of this autoimmune disorder involves a detailed physical
examination along with analysis of symptoms. A complete neurological
examination will be conducted where in physicians will check for – reflexes,
muscle strength, muscle tone, senses of touch and sight and coordination
and balance. A wide range of diagnostic imaging tests like - Edrophonium
(Tensilon) test, repetitive nerve stimulation test, Single-fiber
electromyography (EMG), Ice pack test and CT scan or MRI scan (to check if
there's a tumor or other abnormality in the thymus) will be conducted. In
addition, blood testing will be done to check for antibodies associated with
MG.

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There is no specific cure for MG, but treatment modalities can help
effectively manage symptoms and control the activity of your immune
system. Treatment options include –
 Medications like corticosteroids and immune-suppressants are used to
suppress the immune system. These medications help minimize the
abnormal immune response that occurs in MG. In addition,
cholinesterase inhibitors, such as pyridostigmine (Mestinon), can be
used to enhance communication between nerves and muscles.
 Intravenous therapy like Plasmapheresis (filtering process similar to
dialysis) and Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (provides your body
with normal antibodies) helps in improving muscle strength.
 Thymus gland removal surgery will be conducted for patients with MG.
Reports from the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America suggest
that between 10-15 percent of people with MG will have a tumor in
their thymus. Tumors, even those that are benign, are always
removed because they may become cancerous. Once the thymus is
removed, patients typically show less muscle weakness.
Neurology medical coding involves using the specific ICD-10 codes to
show accurate diagnosis of Myasthenia gravis (MG) on your medical claims.
ICD-10 Codes to Use
G70 - Myasthenia gravis and other myoneural disorders
 G70.0 - Myasthenia gravis
 G70.00 - Myasthenia gravis, without (acute) exacerbation
 G70.01 - Myasthenia gravis, with (acute) exacerbation
G70.1 - Toxic myoneural disorders
G70.2 - Congenital and developmental myasthenia

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G70.8 - Other specified myoneural disorders
 G70.80 - Lambert-Eaton syndrome, unspecified
 G70.81 - Lambert-Eaton syndrome in disease classified elsewhere
 G70.89 - Other specified myoneural disorders
G70.9 - Myoneural disorder, unspecified
For people with myasthenia gravis, coping with the disease may be difficult.
Incorporating key lifestyle changes can help alleviate symptoms of MG in the
long run. Some of the lifestyle changes that can be made include – taking
adequate body rest (help minimize muscle weakness), avoiding stress and
heat exposure, wearing an eye patch (if you have double vision) and
adjusting your eating routine.
Medical billing and coding for different neurology conditions can be intricate
and requires knowledge regarding appropriate coding, modifiers and payer-
specific medical billing. For accurate and timely medical billing and claims
submissions, healthcare practices can outsource their billing and coding
tasks to a professional medical billing company that provides the services
of AAPC-certified coding specialists.