What is the default code for coronary artery atherosclerosis?

The default code for coronary artery atherosclerosis is I25.10. This code specifically identifies chronic ischemic heart disease due to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries without angina. It is important to understand that this code is used when the atherosclerotic condition is established but does not indicate any acute episodes or complications.

In the context of coding, I25.20 denotes atherosclerosis of the coronary artery with angina pectoris, which would not be considered the default code. Codes I35.0 and I21.9 pertain to aortic stenosis and unspecified acute myocardial infarction, respectively, neither of which accurately represents generalized atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Therefore, I25.10 is the correct default code for coronary artery atherosclerosis, capturing the chronic nature of the condition without any additional qualifiers.