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ICD-10 Coding for Mild Dementia(F01.A0, F02.A0)

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

Also known as:

Early-stage DementiaMild Cognitive Impairment

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Mild Dementia

F01-F03Primary Range

Mental and behavioral disorders due to known physiological conditions

This range includes codes for different types of dementia categorized by etiology and severity.

Alzheimer's disease

Used to specify Alzheimer's disease when coding dementia due to Alzheimer's.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
F01.A0Vascular dementia, mild, without behavioral disturbanceUse when documenting mild vascular dementia without behavioral disturbances.
  • MRI evidence of cerebrovascular disease
  • Cognitive testing indicating mild impairment
F02.A0Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere, mild, without behavioral disturbanceUse when dementia is secondary to another condition like Parkinson's, without behavioral disturbances.
  • Linkage to underlying disease such as Parkinson's
  • Cognitive testing indicating mild impairment

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 mild dementia

Essential facts and insights about Mild Dementia

The ICD-10 code for mild dementia depends on the underlying cause, such as F01.A0 for vascular dementia.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for mild dementia

Vascular dementia, mild, without behavioral disturbance
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • MRI evidence of cerebrovascular disease

documentation Criteria

  • Documentation of mild cognitive impairment without behavioral disturbances

Applicable To

  • Mild vascular dementia

Excludes

  • Alzheimer's disease (G30.-)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • MRI evidence of cerebrovascular disease
  • Cognitive testing indicating mild impairment

Code-Specific Risks

  • Ensure etiology is specified to avoid unspecified coding.

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies 'mild' and 'vascular' to use this code.

Ancillary Codes

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

Wandering in diseases classified elsewhere

Z91.83
Use to indicate risk of wandering in patients with dementia.

Alzheimer's disease with early onset

G30.0
Use when Alzheimer's disease is the underlying condition.

Differential Codes

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

Unspecified dementia, mild, without behavioral disturbance

F03.A0
Use F03.A0 when the etiology of dementia is not specified.

Dementia with Lewy bodies

G31.83
Use G31.83 when Lewy bodies are present.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Mild Dementia to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code F01.A0.

Impact

Clinical: Leads to inadequate care planning., Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Financial: Potential for reduced reimbursement.

Mitigation Strategy

Always include severity in the diagnosis., Use templates to ensure completeness.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to lower reimbursement rates., Compliance: Increases risk of audit issues., Data Quality: Reduces accuracy of health records.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation specifies etiology and severity to use specific codes.

Impact

Inadequate documentation of behavioral disturbances can lead to audit issues.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure detailed documentation of all observed behaviors.

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 Mild Dementia, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Mild Dementia

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

Mild Alzheimer's dementia with agitation

Specialty: Neurology

Required Elements

  • Patient history
  • Cognitive assessment results
  • Behavioral observations

Example Documentation

Patient exhibits mild cognitive impairment with episodes of agitation, requiring occasional assistance with daily tasks.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient has dementia.
Good Documentation Example
Patient has mild Alzheimer's dementia with agitation, requiring assistance with medication management.
Explanation
The good example specifies the type, severity, and behavioral aspects of dementia.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Mild Dementia? Ask your questions below.

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

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