AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2021 Issue 1; Ask the Editor
Depression and Anxiety
When the provider’s documentation indicates a patient has both depression and anxiety by using terminology such as depression and anxiety or depression with anxiety, are these diagnoses coded separately? Does the classification assume a linkage between the two conditions? There are no Excludes 1 notes that prohibit coding depression and anxiety together. What is the appropriate code assignment for a patient with depression and anxiety? ...
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Article Overview
This coding guidance article addresses how to interpret provider documentation when depression and anxiety appear together in the same record. It is aimed at coding professionals who need to understand the general assignment approach, the role of ICD-10-CM classification structure, and whether a documented pair of diagnoses should be treated as linked or separate when the record does not establish that relationship.
Why This Topic Matters
Correct interpretation of documentation involving common mental health diagnoses affects diagnosis coding consistency and record accuracy. The article helps readers understand the scope of the classification guidance without relying on assumptions about a relationship between the conditions.
What You Will Learn
- How the classification approaches documentation that includes both depression and anxiety
- Whether the presence of both conditions implies a linked diagnosis
- What general coding guidance applies when linkage is not established in the record
- How ICD-10-CM classification notes relate to these diagnoses
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Revenue cycle staff
Codes Discussed
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