Long term (current) use of systemic steroids

This code indicates a patient's ongoing, current use of systemic corticosteroids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, for an extended period. It signifies that the patient is actively receiving these medications for therapeutic purposes, rather than for a short-term acute condition.

Apply this code when documenting a patient's chronic management with systemic steroids for conditions like autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or inflammatory bowel disease. It should be used in conjunction with the code for the underlying condition necessitating the steroid use.

• Always sequence this code after the definitive diagnosis for which the steroids are prescribed.
• Do not use this code for inhaled, topical, or locally injected steroids.
• Ensure documentation clearly states "long-term" or "current" use of systemic steroids.