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Wiki Altered Mental Status as a primary dx code

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Susan Paine

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Can 780.97 for AMS be used as a primary dx code? If not, why not? I've heard that it shouldn't be used but need docuementation of why this is so? Can't find anything in the guidelines/coding conventions.
 
780.97 is a symtom and if no reason for the ALOC is given then yes it can be principle. if however the physician indicates the reason for the ALOC example- POISIONING code the nine hundred range code followed by the 780.97


how to use 780.97

patient comes in ALOC - physicians Impression ALOC
Principle - 780.97


patient comes in with ALOC - Physicians impression ALOC Due to suicide attempt on tylenol
principle - 965.4
secondary - 780.97


hope i helped :)
 
Altered mental status and altered state of consciousness are two different things which is why the 780.97 code excludes the 780.01-780.09 codes. So it really depends on the documentation but eother can be used as a primary diagnosis.
 
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