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ICD-10 Coding for Psychotic Disorders(F20.9, F29)

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

Also known as:

PsychosisSchizophrenia Spectrum Disordersschizophreniamental disorder

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Psychotic Disorders

F20-F29Primary Range

Schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders

This range includes the primary codes for various psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Psychotic disorder with delusions due to a physiological condition

Used when psychosis is secondary to a medical condition.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
F20.9Schizophrenia, unspecifiedUse when schizophrenia is diagnosed but not further specified.
  • Persistent delusions or hallucinations for more than 6 months
  • Social or occupational dysfunction
F29Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known physiological conditionUse when psychosis is present but no specific cause is identified.
  • Psychotic symptoms with no identified cause
  • Negative substance use and medical tests

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 unspecified psychosis

Essential facts and insights about Psychotic Disorders

The ICD-10 code for unspecified psychosis is F29, used when no specific cause is identified.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for psychotic

Schizophrenia, unspecified
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Persistent symptoms and social dysfunction

Applicable To

  • Chronic schizophrenia
  • Schizophrenia NOS

Excludes

  • Schizoaffective disorder (F25.-)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Persistent delusions or hallucinations for more than 6 months
  • Social or occupational dysfunction

Code-Specific Risks

  • Risk of undercoding if specific subtype is known.

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies the chronicity and impact on daily functioning.

Ancillary Codes

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

Alcohol-induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations

F10.231
Use when psychosis is directly related to alcohol use.

Differential Codes

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

Schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type

F25.0
Presence of mood disorder symptoms alongside psychotic features.

Psychotic disorder with delusions due to physiological condition

F06.2
Psychosis directly linked to a medical condition.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Psychotic Disorders to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code F20.9.

Impact

Clinical: May lead to inappropriate treatment., Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards., Financial: Potential claim denials.

Mitigation Strategy

Always assess and document substance use history.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to incorrect DRG assignment., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Reduces accuracy of health data.

Mitigation Strategy

Use the specific code for the diagnosed disorder, such as F20.0 for paranoid schizophrenia.

Impact

High risk of audit if F29 is used without ruling out other causes.

Mitigation Strategy

Thorough documentation of diagnostic process and exclusion of other causes.

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 Psychotic Disorders, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Psychotic Disorders

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

Inpatient discharge for schizophrenia

Specialty: Psychiatry

Required Elements

  • Diagnosis
  • Hospital course
  • Discharge medications
  • Follow-up plan

Example Documentation

Patient discharged with diagnosis of F20.0, started on risperidone 2 mg BID, follow-up in 2 weeks.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient stable, discharged.
Good Documentation Example
Patient stable on risperidone, no hallucinations, follow-up in 2 weeks.
Explanation
Good example provides medication details and follow-up plan.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Psychotic Disorders? Ask your questions below.

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