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Pediatric Coding Alert

Attention Deficit Disorder:

Report Sign/Symptoms for Patients Who Exhibit ADD Traits But Don't Have Definitive Dx

Published on Fri Mar 18, 2011

Key: Avoid 'labeling' a patient with ADD or ADHD if you haven't yet reached a diagnosis.Puzzled about how to report the commonly-seen "pre-ADD" diagnosis? Until the ICD-9 code set (or its ICD-10 equivalent after Oct. 1, 2013) introduces a code for a "pre" diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you should continue to report the signs and symptoms that prompted the patient's visit.In the November 2011 Issue of Pediatric Coding Alert, we reminded coders that new code 799.51 (Attention or concentration deficit) was created to report cognitive deficits related to a traumatic brain injury or neurological condition--but not as a pre-ADD diagnosis. This prompted questions from our readers, who asked what they should use when patients present with conditions that signal that the patient is "pre-" ADD or ADHD. The lowdown: If your physician has not definitively diagnosed the patient with ADD, ADHD, or [...]
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