Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert
Look to 310 and 331 for Mild Cognitive Impairment
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
- 331.0 -- Alzheimer's disease
- 331.2 -- Senile degeneration of brain
- 331.83 -- Mild cognitive impairment, so stated.
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.
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