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ICD-10 Coding for Behavioral Concerns(F91.1, F90.1)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Behavioral Concerns. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Behavioral IssuesConduct Problems

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Behavioral Concerns

F01-F99Primary Range

Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders

This range includes all mental and behavioral disorders, including those related to conduct and emotional regulation.

Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances

These codes are used to capture social determinants that may impact behavioral health.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
F91.1Conduct disorder, childhood-onset typeUse when specific behaviors such as aggression, theft, and truancy are documented over a 6-month period.
  • Documented aggressive behavior
  • Recurrent theft
  • Truancy for at least 6 months
F90.1Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly hyperactive typeUse when hyperactivity and impulsiveness are documented with evidence from assessments.
  • Vanderbilt or Conners assessment
  • Symptoms present in multiple settings

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 conduct disorder

Essential facts and insights about Behavioral Concerns

The ICD-10 code for conduct disorder, childhood-onset type, is F91.1. It requires documentation of specific behaviors such as aggression, theft, and truancy over a 6-month period.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for behavioral concern

Conduct disorder, childhood-onset type
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Presence of aggressive behavior, theft, or truancy for at least 6 months.

Applicable To

  • Aggressive behavior
  • Theft
  • Truancy

Excludes

  • Oppositional defiant disorder (F91.3)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Documented aggressive behavior
  • Recurrent theft
  • Truancy for at least 6 months

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if specific behaviors are not documented

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies the frequency and impact of behaviors.

Ancillary Codes

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

Problems related to education and literacy

Z55.9
Use when educational difficulties are contributing to the behavioral issues.

Problems related to living alone

Z60.2
Use when social isolation is impacting behavior.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Oppositional defiant disorder

F91.3
Use F91.3 if the behavior is primarily argumentative and defiant without aggression or theft.

Impulsiveness

R45.87
Use R45.87 if impulsiveness is present without meeting ADHD criteria.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Behavioral Concerns to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code F91.1.

Impact

Clinical: May lead to misdiagnosis., Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards., Financial: Potential for denied claims.

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific behavioral descriptors., Include frequency and impact in notes.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to lower reimbursement rates., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Reduces specificity and accuracy of health records.

Mitigation Strategy

Use F03.91 when behavioral disturbances are documented.

Impact

Inadequate documentation of specific behaviors.

Mitigation Strategy

Use standardized templates and checklists.

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 Behavioral Concerns, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Behavioral Concerns

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Behavioral Concerns. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Conduct disorder in a school-aged child

Specialty: Pediatrics

Required Elements

  • Behavioral incidents
  • Interventions
  • Response to interventions
  • Plan for ongoing management

Example Documentation

Patient engaged in 4 physical altercations at school; CBT initiated.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient has conduct issues.
Good Documentation Example
Patient engaged in 4 physical altercations at school in March 2025; stole peers’ belongings weekly for 8 months.
Explanation
The good example provides specific behaviors and their frequency, meeting documentation requirements.

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