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:

Note: Always check the specific carrier's local coverage determination to help ensure your diagnosis coding is on track. Medicare, for example, accepts 331.83 for mild cognitive impairment, but Blue Cross/Blue Shield prefers 780.93 (Memory loss).

Don't forget: You should never code based on what will get the claim paid. Instead, you should always report the diagnosis code most clearly documented in the physician's notes.