ADHD F Codes
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Identifying the right billable code for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as an ADHD F code, is essential for mental health practitioners who bill insurance. Knowing which code to use will help you reach an accurate diagnosis and create individualized treatment plans for your clients.
There are multiple ADHD F codes, each with different symptoms, use cases, and conditions. For example, therapists need to know the difference between the ICD-10 code for ADHD unspecified and the ADHD code for ADHD combined type.
This guide provides an overview of the correct ADHD F codes, as well as a complete list of corresponding DSM codes for ADHD, with symptoms, specifiers, and differential diagnoses.
Bookmark this article as a reference to use next time you need to access information on ADHD diagnosis codes.
What are ICD-10 codes and DSM-5 codes?
The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) is a guide published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is used by clinicians globally.
The benefit of using the ICD-10 is that standard diagnostic language can be used to measure and track health information. Insurance companies only recognize ICD-10 codes for service reimbursements.
Behavioral health practitioners in the U.S. use a guide produced by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5).
The DSM-5 also contains ICD-10 codes, so you can bill insurance based on the corresponding ICD-10 code. For example, you’ll be able to find the various ADHD F code diagnoses in the DSM-5.
DSM-5 ADHD symptoms
ADHD falls under the section “Neurodevelopmental Disorders” within the DSM-5.
The essential features of ADHD include a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that impacts functioning and development.
In order to meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis, a patient must present with six or more of the following symptoms from either category:
Inattention:
- Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes at work, school, or other activities.
- Often has trouble sustaining attention in tasks, play, or during class.
- Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
- Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace—losing focus, or becoming side-tracked.
- Often has trouble organizing, coordinating, or managing sequential tasks and activities.
- Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require sustained mental effort or concentration over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or completing business admin).
- Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).
- Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. In adults and older adolescents, this can include unrelated thoughts.
- Is often forgetful in daily activities, like running errands, completing chores, or returning calls.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity:
- Often fidgets with hands or feet, or squirms in their seat.
- Often leaves their seat in situations where remaining seated is expected (in the classroom during class, or during a presentation in the workplace).
- Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate. Adolescents and adults may report feeling restless.
- Often unable to play or take part in quiet leisurely activities.
- Is often “on the go,” acting as if “driven by a motor,” may be uncomfortable sitting still for a long period of time (in restaurants, meetings etc.).
- Often talks excessively.
- Often blurts out an answer or response, before someone else has a chance to ask their question or make a statement in entirety. This can sound like completing others’ sentences or not waiting for their turn in a conversation.
- Often has trouble waiting their turn in general, including impatience or unwillingness to wait in line.
- Often interrupts or intrudes others—interrupting a game or conversation or using other people’s things without permission.
Finding the right ADHD F code in the ICD-10
ICD-10 codes are used to record diagnoses, accompany assessments, and bill insurance payers. ADHD is listed in the ICD-10 under the section “Behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence (F90-98)” and the subheading “Hyperkinetic disorders” (code F90).
The ICD-10 lists hyperkinetic disorders as a group of disorders that occur in early childhood (usually within the first five years of life). Characteristics of hyperkinetic disorders include:
- A lack of persistence when it comes to activities that require cognitive involvement
- A tendency to move from one activity to another without completing an activity
- Disorganized and excessive activity
There are four hyperkinetic disorders listed under ICD-10 code F90:
- Disturbance of activity and attention (ICD-10 F90.0 diagnosis code)—aka ADHD. This includes:
- Attention deficit:
- Disorder with hyperactivity
- Hyperactivity disorder
- Syndrome with hyperactivity
- Hyperkinetic conduct disorder (ICD-10 F90.1 diagnosis code)
- Other hyperkinetic disorders (ICD-10 F90.8 diagnosis code)
- Hyperkinetic disorder, unspecified (ICD-10 F90.9 diagnosis code)
ADHD is one of the most frequently billed ICD-10 codes and is listed at #11 in SimplePractice’s list of the 20 most-frequently billed ICD-10 codes.
Using the DSM-5 code for ADHD
In order to diagnose ADHD according to the DSM-5, the APA requires that a client meets the following criteria:
- ADHD must begin in childhood with several symptoms being present before age 12.
- Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are present in two or more settings, like work, school, or home.
- There is clear evidence that these symptoms can impair social, academic, and occupational functioning.
- Symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a psychotic disorder and are not otherwise explained by another diagnosis.
Clinicians must also specify the type of ADHD they are diagnosing, such as the ADHD code for ADHD combined type, the ICD-10 code for ADHD unspecified, or the code for hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. The criteria specifiers are as follows:
- Combined presentation (F90.2): Client presents with symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity for the past six months.
- Predominantly inattentive presentation (F90.0): Symptoms of inattention are met, but hyperactivity-impulsivity criteria are not met in the last six months.
- Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation (F90.1): Patient experiences symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, but no inattentive symptoms in the last six months.
Differential diagnoses for ADHD
Even though patients may meet some of the criterion for ADHD, there may be a more appropriate diagnosis, such as:
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Intermittent explosive disorder
- Other neurodevelopmental disorders
- Specific learning disorder
- Intellectual developmental disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Reactive attachment disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Substance use disorders
- Personality disorders
- Psychotic disorders
- Medication-induced symptoms of ADHD
- Neurocognitive disorders
How to find the ICD-10 ADHD F code
The full list of F codes for hyperkinetic disorders (code F90)—which includes ADHD—are available in the following digital and book formats:
- ICD-10 Data, a searchable ICD-10 database
- The official ICD-10 under the subheading “Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence” and the subheading “Hyperkinetic disorders”.
- DSM-5 throughout the textbook and online. The hard copy contains a handy alphabetical list and numerical list of ICD-10 codes.
It is worth noting that while the DSM-5 does contain accurate ICD-10 codes, they may not align with the most recent ICD version and diagnostic criteria and other indicators may differ.
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