AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2006 Issue 4; VOLUMES 1 AND 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Altered Mental Status
Effective October 1, 2006, a new code 780.97 has been created to identify altered mental status. Altered mental status may frequently be described as a symptom of a number of different types of illnesses. Some of the potential underlying etiologies include trauma, infection, neoplasm, alcohol, and drugs, as well as endocrine disorders, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders and renal disorders. Altered mental status may be based on reports of family or caregivers. Acute changes from baseline mental function are important, which requires knowledge of the baseline. Mental status examination includes assessment of orientation, affect and mood, language, memory, judgment...
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Article Overview
This article covers a diagnosis coding update for altered mental status, including the effective date of the new code, how the condition is discussed in relation to broader symptom presentation, and the documentation context that affects whether the diagnosis is reported. It is relevant to coding professionals, compliance staff, and clinicians who document mental status changes and related symptoms.
Why This Topic Matters
Altered mental status can be documented in different ways across clinical settings, so accurate code selection depends on recognizing when it is explicitly stated and understanding its relationship to other symptom categories and underlying conditions.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames altered mental status as a documented diagnosis and symptom presentation
- What general clinical contexts may be associated with mental status change
- How the article situates the topic within a broader mental status assessment discussion
- What documentation context is emphasized for reporting the condition
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Physicians and advanced practice clinicians
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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