Back to HomeBeta

ICD-10 Coding for Advance Care Planning(Z71.89, Z15.01)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Advance Care Planning. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

ACPEnd-of-Life Planning

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Advance Care Planning

Z71-Z76Primary Range

Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice

This range includes codes for counseling services, including advance care planning.

Genetic susceptibility to disease

Relevant for cases where family history influences advance care planning.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
Z71.89Other specified counselingUse when advance care planning is the primary focus of the encounter.
  • Documented face-to-face discussion
  • Involvement of patient or surrogate
Z15.01Family history of malignant neoplasmUse when family history of cancer is a factor in advance care planning.
  • Documented family history influencing care decisions

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for advance care planning

Essential facts and insights about Advance Care Planning

The ICD-10 code for advance care planning is Z71.89, used for other specified counseling.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for advance care planning

Other specified counseling
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

documentation Criteria

  • Document time spent and topics discussed.

Applicable To

  • Advance care planning discussions

Excludes

  • General health counseling (Z71.3)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Documented face-to-face discussion
  • Involvement of patient or surrogate

Code-Specific Risks

  • Ensure documentation of time and participants to avoid audits.

Coding Notes

  • Ensure the documentation reflects the voluntary nature of the discussion.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Family history of malignant neoplasm

Z15.01
Use when family history impacts the planning.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Advance Care Planning to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code Z71.89.

Impact

Clinical: Lack of clarity in patient care decisions., Regulatory: Potential audit triggers., Financial: Denied claims due to insufficient documentation.

Mitigation Strategy

Use detailed templates for documentation.

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect billing can lead to denied claims., Compliance: Non-compliance with CMS guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate data on patient encounters.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure time spent is clearly documented and meets minimum requirements.

Impact

Inadequate time documentation can lead to audits.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure accurate and detailed time records.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Advance Care Planning, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Advance Care Planning

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Advance Care Planning. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

ACP discussion for a patient with advanced cancer

Specialty: Oncology

Required Elements

  • Participants
  • Time spent
  • Topics discussed
  • Forms completed

Example Documentation

Met with patient and spouse for 45 minutes to discuss POLST options and complete a living will.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Discussed end-of-life care.
Good Documentation Example
Met with patient and daughter for 30 minutes to discuss DNR preferences and complete advance directive forms.
Explanation
The good example specifies participants, time, and topics, meeting documentation requirements.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Advance Care Planning? Ask your questions below.

Ask about any ICD-10 CM code, or paste a medical note

We build tools for
clinician happiness.

Learn More at Freed.ai
Back to HomeBeta

Built by Freed

Try Freed for free for 7 days.

Learn more