Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: What diagnoses do carriers usually accept for mild cognitive impairment?

Tennessee Subscriber

Answer: Codes in the 310 or 331 series might be your best choices. Carriers often accept diagnoses such as:

- 310.8 -- Other specified nonpsychotic mental disorders following organic brain damage

- 310.9 -- Unspecified nonpsychotic mental disorder following organic brain damage

- 331.2 -- Senile degeneration of brain

- 331.2 -- eneration of brain

- 331.83 -- Mild cognitive impairment, so stated

- 331.0 -- Alzheimer's disease.

Note: Always check the specific carrier's local coverage determination to help ensure your diagnosis coding is on track. Medicare accepts 331.83 for mild cognitive impairment, but Blue Cross/Blue Shield prefers 780.93 (Memory loss). Also, you should never code based on what will get the claim paid. Instead, you should always report the diagnosis most clearly documented in the physician's notes.