Toxic effect of beryllium and its compounds, assault, subs

This code signifies a toxic reaction resulting from intentional exposure to beryllium or its compounds, occurring during a follow-up visit for treatment of the initial injury. The patient is experiencing ongoing effects or complications from a deliberate act of poisoning with beryllium.

Apply this code when documenting subsequent care for a patient who was intentionally poisoned with beryllium and is presenting for continued management of the toxic effects. This includes follow-up appointments for monitoring, medication adjustments, or treatment of chronic beryllium disease stemming from the assault.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "assault" as the intent of exposure and "subsequent encounter" for the visit type.
• Always code the specific toxic effect(s) of beryllium as a primary or secondary diagnosis.
• Do not use for accidental or unintentional exposures; a different external cause code would be appropriate.