Pediatric Coding Alert

These codes describe cognition problems due to neurologic trauma. The AHA Coding Clinic restricts the use of 799.5x to conditions caused by a neurologic trauma such as traumatic brain injury. Therefore, you cannot use this code for attention or hyperactivity concerns prior to the physician reaching a definitive diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The August 2010 Pediatric Coding Alert article, "ICD-9: New 'Attention Deficit' Choices Will Help Fill Gaps," indicated 799.51 could be used in signs and symptoms cases in which no official diagnosis was made. ADD is specifically excluded from 799.5x's code section, "Signs and symptoms involving cognition". "Code 799.51 (Attention or concentration deficit) is not meant to be used either as a surrogate for ADD or as a 'pre' diagnosis," says Jeffrey Linzer Sr., MD, MICP, FAAP, FACEP, associate medical director of compliance and business affairs for the Emergency Pediatric Group [...]