Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Question:  What is the difference between 799.81 and 302.71?

New York Subscriber

Answer: The difference is that 302.71 (Hypoactive sexual desire disorder) is a mental problem. For 799.81 (Decreased libido), you don’t know the cause — which could be drugs or a physical problem. With 302.71, you are saying she has a mental disorder that led to now wanting to have sex. This diagnosis should only be reported when the physician has clearly documented that the evidence points to a psychological problem rather than a physical one and would most likely be used by a psychologist or psychiatrist treating the patient for this issue.

ICD-10: When your diagnosis system changes, you should report: 

• 302.71=F52.0 (Hypoactive sexual desire disorder)
• 799.81=R68.82 (Decreased libido)