Autism Spectrum Disorder

by  Find-A-Code™
Jan 1st, 2019 - Reviewed/Updated Apr 14th

Explanation

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and lasts throughout a person’s life. It affects how a person acts and interacts with others, communicates, and learns. According to DSM-5, ASD includes what used to be known as Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorders.

It is called a “spectrum” disorder because people with ASD can have a range of symptoms. People with ASD might have problems talking with you, or they might not look you in the eye when you talk to them. They may also have restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. They may spend a lot of time putting things in order, or they may say the same sentence again and again. They may often seem to be in their "own world"

Diagnosis is made through various tests and evaluations. The causes of ASD are currently not known. Research suggests that both genetics and the environment play important roles.

The following table lists codes in this category:

Autism Spectrum Disorder Coding Tips

Diagnostic Criteria: Only code F84.0 is listed in DSM-5. See DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for additional information on coding this condition.

ICD-10/DSM Differences: The DSM-5 publication states that Autism Spectrum Disorder includes autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, or Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. However, ICD-10-CM guidelines exclude Asperger's syndrome (F84.5) from Autistic disorder (F84.0) and from some other codes as listed above. Due to these differences, be aware of individual payer policies and coding guidelines. It should be noted that in 2017, ICD-10-CM added the description "Autism Spectrum Disorder" to code F84.0.

Associated Conditions:Use additional codes to identify any associated medical condition and/or intellectual disabilities (F70-F79).

Other Consider evaluation for social (pragmatic) communication disorder (F80.82) for patients with significant deficits in social communication, who do not otherwise meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder.