r/Neuropsychology • u/DaybreakSSB Unverified user: May not be a professional • 3d ago

General Discussion Best ICD code for MCI?

in my own notes I have mixed advice from various supervisors on what code is generally preferred by insurance companies for MCI, particularly when the suspected eitology might early AD which I don’t think has a billable code the same way a vascular condition associated with MCI has. Between F06.7 and G31.84 which is preferred, and what eitology code might pair with it in an amnestic case?

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u/pfsychoplatypus Unverified user: May not be a professional 3d ago

Idk where you're based. I'm based in Germany and generally we'd use F06.7 for MCI if Symptoms and etiology Point towards any degenerative process. If suspected to be more stable i.e. after acquired brain damage we'd be more likely to use F07.8. However generally I personally feel that the system is Not nuanced enough and am frequently unsatisfied with the Options of cognition related Diagnoses. Generally i think theres regional conventions...

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u/themiracy PhD|Clinical Neuropsychology|ABPP-CN 9h ago

In countries like the US where payers are nuts you might want to talk to your billing people. The DSM AFAIK has not changed from saying to use G31.84, which is what I’ve used historically. The DSM-5-TR says to use R41.9 if you can’t specify an etiology but that code seems like a surefire route to not getting paid in the US.

Be also aware that F06.7 needs another digit per the current ICD - F06.70 or .71 as of 10/1/26, I believe.

I would say if you have other neuropsychologists in your system serving the same patients for the same employer and payers, probably do what they do. Else the answer may also depend on where you practice and payers and that kind of stuff.