Altered Mental Status ICD-10-CM Codes
Read this short guide and learn about altered mental status ICD codes you can use.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What altered mental status ICD codes can I use?
If you’re looking for altered mental status ICD codes, we’d like you to know that there is one specific to it, which would be R41.82 - Altered mental status, unspecified. You can use this if you’re dealing with a patient confirmed to have an altered mental status.
Now, there are two things to note about this ICD-10 code:
- It is an unspecified code. This means a patient's altered mental status isn’t identified for now.
- It is also not valid as a principal diagnosis. An alteration of a person’s mental status stems from a specific problem, so that particular issue needs to be identified to serve as the principal diagnosis, and this ICD-10 code can be used to explain how it has affected the patient.
Also, just so you know, there are three types of altered mental status: delirium, dementia, and psychosis. If you can confirm what type of altered mental status a patient has, it’s best to use more specific codes than the one mentioned above. Here are three examples:
- F05 - Delirium due to known physiological condition: This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have delirium, but the kind that isn’t caused by a known physiological condition.
- F03.90 - Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety: This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have dementia, but the type of dementia isn’t specified, nor is it clear how severe it is. Despite this, it’s confirmed that the dementia hasn’t resulted in any behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, or anxiety.
- F29 - Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known physiological condition: This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have psychosis, but it’s not specified as to what kind. What is known is that a substance or a known physiological condition does not cause psychosis.
Are these altered mental status ICD codes billable?
Yes. The leading altered mental status ICD code we mentioned is valid and billable, as are the examples for delirium, dementia, and psychosis.
Clinical information about altered mental status:
When healthcare professionals mention altered mental status, they refer to a person’s cognitive functioning change. So, as you know, an altered mental status is considered a symptom more than a main problem because it stems from something specific. What that is will depend on what the professionals can find based on tests.
As we mentioned, three altered mental statuses are delirium, dementia, and psychosis.
Those with delirium tend to feel confused or become unaware of their surroundings.
Those with dementia have trouble making decisions, thinking, and remembering things.
Those with psychosis lose touch with reality and start hallucinating, meaning they see, hear, and feel things that aren’t there. They might become delusional as well.
Synonyms include:
- Disturbance of consciousness
- Drugged state
- Hypnotic state
- Indication for modification of patient behavior status
- Indication for modification of patient cognitive status
- Sedated
- Semiconscious
- Transient altered mental status
- Delirium of mixed origin
- Presbyophrenic psychosis
- Presenile dementia
Commonly asked questions
Yes. There are too many to list down for this mini-guide. Just make sure to use valid and billable ICD-10 codes.
A wide variety of things can alter a person’s mental status. These include neurological problems like stroke, seizures, brain tumors, brain hemorrhages, and traumatic brain injuries. Alterations can also occur due to metabolic issues like dehydration, hypoglycemia, and hypothyroidism. Infections and drug withdrawals/overdoses can also cause alterations.
That depends on the status, how severe it is, and what is causing it. Some are lucky enough that their symptoms just fade quickly, and they’re back to normal. Some will require medication, oxygen, hydration, etc. Some will require surgery.
Some alterations are permanent and progressive, which means they can’t be cured and are expected to worsen over time, so treatment will come in the form of management to weaken their symptoms. The goal is to help the patient become as functional as possible despite the problem and help their loved ones cope and work around it.
