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ICD-10 Coding for Medical Noncompliance(Z91.120, Z91.14)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Medical Noncompliance. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

NonadherenceMedication Noncompliance

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Medical Noncompliance

Z91.1Primary Range

Patient's noncompliance with medical treatment and regimen

This range covers various reasons for noncompliance, including financial hardship, intentional underdosing, and other specified reasons.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
Z91.120Patient's intentional underdosing of medication regimen due to financial hardshipUse when the patient deliberately reduces medication intake due to financial constraints.
  • Documented patient statement about cost barriers
  • Pharmacy records showing unfilled prescriptions
Z91.14Patient's other noncompliance with medication regimenUse when the patient is noncompliant for reasons other than financial hardship.
  • Patient's statement about nonadherence reasons
  • Medication reconciliation showing dose variance

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for medical noncompliance

Essential facts and insights about Medical Noncompliance

The ICD-10 code for medical noncompliance due to financial hardship is Z91.120, requiring documentation of cost barriers.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for medical noncompliance

Patient's intentional underdosing of medication regimen due to financial hardship
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

documentation Criteria

  • Patient's statement about medication cost issues

Applicable To

  • Intentional underdosing due to cost

Excludes

  • Noncompliance due to forgetfulness

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Documented patient statement about cost barriers
  • Pharmacy records showing unfilled prescriptions

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if financial hardship is not documented

Coding Notes

  • Ensure financial hardship is explicitly documented.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Patient's other noncompliance with medication regimen

Z91.14
Use Z91.14 for noncompliance not related to financial issues.

Patient's intentional underdosing due to financial hardship

Z91.120
Use Z91.120 if the noncompliance is due to financial reasons.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Medical Noncompliance to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code Z91.120.

Impact

Clinical: Impacts treatment decisions., Regulatory: May lead to audit issues., Financial: Can result in denied claims.

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific language in documentation., Link noncompliance to clinical outcomes.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to denied claims or lower reimbursement., Compliance: Noncompliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Decreases the accuracy of patient records.

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific codes such as Z91.120 or Z91.14 based on documented reasons.

Impact

Coding noncompliance without linking to clinical outcomes.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation links noncompliance to clinical outcomes.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Medical Noncompliance, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Medical Noncompliance

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Medical Noncompliance. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Patient with medication noncompliance due to financial hardship

Specialty: General Practice

Required Elements

  • Patient statement about cost barriers
  • Medication reconciliation
  • Clinical impact of noncompliance

Example Documentation

Patient reports taking half the prescribed dose of lisinopril due to $50 copay, resulting in uncontrolled hypertension.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient not taking meds.
Good Documentation Example
Patient states they take half the prescribed dose of lisinopril due to $50 copay, resulting in BP 160/95.
Explanation
The good example provides specific reasons and clinical impact, supporting the use of Z91.120.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Medical Noncompliance? Ask your questions below.

Ask about any ICD-10 CM code, or paste a medical note

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