Back to HomeBeta

ICD-10 Coding for Noncompliance with Medication(Z91.120, Z91.130)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Noncompliance with Medication. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Medication NonadherenceNonadherence to Medication Regimen

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Noncompliance with Medication

Z91.1Primary Range

Patient's noncompliance with medical treatment and regimen

This range includes codes for documenting reasons for noncompliance with medication, such as intentional or unintentional underdosing.

Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances

These codes are used to document underdosing of specific medications and should be sequenced after the condition code.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
Z91.120Patient's intentional underdosing of medication regimen due to financial hardshipUse when the patient intentionally reduces medication intake due to financial constraints.
  • Documented patient statement of financial hardship
  • Evidence of reduced medication intake
Z91.130Patient's unintentional underdosing of medication regimen due to age-related debilityUse when the patient unintentionally reduces medication intake due to cognitive issues.
  • Patient history indicating forgetfulness or cognitive impairment
  • Documentation of reduced medication intake

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 noncompliance with medication

Essential facts and insights about Noncompliance with Medication

ICD-10 codes for noncompliance with medication include Z91.120 for financial hardship and Z91.130 for cognitive issues.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for noncompliance with medication

Patient's intentional underdosing of medication regimen due to financial hardship
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

documentation Criteria

  • Document the patient's statement about financial hardship and reduced medication intake.

Applicable To

  • Intentional underdosing due to cost

Excludes

  • Noncompliance due to forgetfulness (Z91.130)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Documented patient statement of financial hardship
  • Evidence of reduced medication intake

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if financial hardship is not documented

Coding Notes

  • Ensure financial hardship is clearly documented in the patient's record.

Ancillary Codes

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

Underdosing of antihypertensive drugs

T46.1x6A
Use alongside Z91.120 when documenting underdosing of antihypertensives due to financial hardship.

Underdosing of diuretics

T50.1x6A
Use alongside Z91.130 when documenting underdosing of diuretics due to forgetfulness.

Differential Codes

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

Patient's unintentional underdosing of medication regimen due to age-related debility

Z91.130
Use Z91.130 if the underdosing is due to forgetfulness or cognitive issues rather than financial reasons.

Patient's intentional underdosing of medication regimen due to financial hardship

Z91.120
Use Z91.120 if the underdosing is due to financial reasons rather than cognitive issues.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Noncompliance with Medication to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code Z91.120.

Impact

Clinical: Leads to inadequate treatment adjustments., Regulatory: May result in audit findings., Financial: Can cause claim denials or reduced reimbursement.

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific language to describe noncompliance reasons., Ensure documentation is complete and detailed.

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can lead to denied claims or reduced reimbursement., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines may result in audit issues., Data Quality: Using outdated codes affects the accuracy of health records.

Mitigation Strategy

Always verify the latest ICD-10 updates and use the most specific codes available.

Impact

Using non-specific codes for noncompliance can trigger audits.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation supports the use of specific codes.

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 Noncompliance with Medication, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Noncompliance with Medication

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Noncompliance with Medication. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Patient with CHF reducing diuretic intake due to job interference

Specialty: Primary Care

Required Elements

  • Medication name and dose
  • Adherence percentage
  • Reason for noncompliance
  • Impact on health
  • Patient education provided

Example Documentation

Pt with CHF reports taking furosemide 20mg 3x/week instead of daily due to frequent urination interfering with job. Educated on risks of fluid overload. Plan: Switch to torsemide with patient assistance program.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Noncompliant with furosemide.
Good Documentation Example
Took furosemide 20mg 3x/week due to job interference; educated on risks of fluid overload.
Explanation
The good example provides specific details on the medication, reason for noncompliance, and patient education.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Noncompliance with Medication? 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