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ADHD ICD 10 Code: What Is It and Why Should You Care?

Julia Ovcharenko, CEO of Numo
November 8, 2023

Are you aware that healthcare providers and insurance companies use a system to categorize medical conditions and procedures? Healthcare providers use this system to keep things organized and ensure you get the best care possible! 

Every sickness or illness has its special code1. It’s like a secret tracking number that helps doctors and researchers keep tabs on stuff. ICD 10 is a code for doctors and healthcare professionals, which stands for the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. So, if you or someone you know has ADHD, invite them to come with us as we explore the nitty-gritty of the diagnosis and the ICD 10 number.

ADHD can show up at any point in a human’s life. And in today’s article, we are taking a long dive into the world of ADHD as we learn more about this unique and exciting condition.

Before breaking things down, here’s a quick outline of what to expect in this article:

  • 5 ICD 10 codes for ADHD (all types)
  • 4 Tips to Remember that ICD 10 Code for ADHD
  • Why You Need to Get an ADHD Code
  • How ICD Codes Work
  •  How ICD Codes Make Your Life Easier
  • What Anyone Dealing With ADHD Should Have
  • Practical Tips for Help in Your Journey with ADHD

[Medicine and ICD 10 Codes]Medicine and ICD 10 Codes

Each medical diagnosis has its own unique ICD 10 number! It is like a secret code just for your health. 

Nobody wants to deal with insurance companies. But keeping accurate records can make getting those medical expenses reimbursed a lot easier. This is your cue to get organized and show those insurance companies you know your stuff. An ICD 10 code for ADHD is required for use by insurance companies in invoicing patients. Insurance companies use the ICD 10 code to determine whether or not to pay for a medical procedure. Insurance companies may not pay for ADHD therapy if the disorder is incorrectly classified. Those in need of ADHD treatment but lack sufficient health insurance may struggle to make finances meet.

[ADHD ICD 10 Codes]5 ADHD ICD 10 Codes (all types)

ADHD unspecified ICD 10

F90.9, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, unspecified type

ADHD inattentive type ICD 10

F90.0, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive type

ADHD hyperactive type ICD 10

F90.1, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly hyperactive type

ADHD combined type ICD 10

F90.2, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type

ADHD ICD 10 other type

F90.8, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, other type

[Tips to Remember]4 Tips to Remember ICD 10 Code for ADHD

Remembering specific medical codes like the ICD-10 code for ADHD can be challenging. Here are five mnemonic techniques that could help:

  • Use Visual Imagery: You could create a mental image to remember '90' and associate it with ADHD. For instance, imagine a classroom with 90 hyperactive students; this could symbolize the ADHD (hyperactivity) element, and the number 90 could help you remember the code.
  • Rhyming Technique: Another method is to create a rhyme to remember the code. An example could be "ADHD's got me on the go. Its ICD number is 90, you know!"
  • Create a Story: Stories are easier to remember because they engage our imagination. Try to create a short story incorporating ADHD and the number 90. For example, "Once upon a time, there were 90 hyperactive squirrels in a forest. These squirrels were so active that they couldn't concentrate on gathering nuts. They were diagnosed with ADHD by the wise owl of the forest."
  • Familiar Associations: Associate the number with something you can easily remember. There may be a year, a sports player's number, or an address that means something to you that includes the number 90. For example, "1990 was the year my cousin, who has ADHD, was born".

Remember, it's essential to repeat these techniques regularly until the association between the ICD-10 code and ADHD is firmly established in your mind.

[Why You Need It]Why You Need to Get an ADHD ICD 10 Code

An appropriate ICD 10 code is necessary for the correct diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Without this code, it is possible to fail to diagnose ADHD and provide effective treatment accurately. Possible results include misdiagnosis, ineffective treatment, and patient damage. So, it is easier to identify and treat ADHD if given a precise label.

Having an official name for ADHD streamlines research into the condition. Researchers use the ICD 10 code for disease classification and prevalence estimation. Having an assigned name for ADHD will help researchers keep tabs on its incidence and get closer to a treatment. Accurate diagnosis, treatment, insurance coverage, and research all benefit significantly from having an ICD 10 code for ADHD.

[How it Works]How ICD 10 Codes Work

Using the ICD-10 code requires deep diving into your symptoms, medical history, and behavior to determine what is going on. It is like being a detective, but instead of solving a crime, the mystery being solved is that of your brain. When you visit your healthcare provider, they will put on their detective hat and use the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD and the ICD-10 code F90 (hyperkinetic disorders) to figure out what is going on in that brain of yours. Once again, it is like solving a mystery, but they use their medical expertise instead of a magnifying glass. 

So, picture this: the healthcare provider will play detective and investigate the patient's symptoms, like a hyperactive Sherlock Holmes. They will be on the lookout for signs of impulsivity and inattention. If all the clues add up, they will diagnose the patient with ADHD. 

[Make Your Life Easier]How ICD 10 Codes Make Your Life Easier

The ICD-10 code is like a medical billing and insurance reimbursement treasure map. It helps you to navigate the waters of ADHD diagnoses and ensures you do not get lost in the sea of coding inconsistencies. 

A medical coder sits at their desk, armed with the ICD-10 code. They can convert a patient's diagnosis into a code only they and other medical experts can decipher with a few keystrokes on their keyboard. It is similar to a secret club, except they charge and reimburse using codes instead of secret handshakes. 

Insurance companies utilize the ICD-10 code to determine whether or not to pay for your ADHD treatment. In terms of medical billing, it is comparable to a hidden decoder ring. Can you picture a world without ICD-10 codes? Similar to a game of telephone, medical billing and insurance reimbursement would be rife with mistakes and discrepancies. Let's be grateful for the little codes that keep our healthcare system functioning well!

ICD-10 codes are more than simply humdrum numeric codes. It is essentially a superhero that makes tracking and managing ADHD so easy! It enables us to monitor the prevalence of ADHD and assess how effectively therapies are doing. It is similar to having a trustworthy personal assistant. With the code, medical professionals may quickly and conveniently compile all the juicy information regarding ADHD diagnosis, patient characteristics, and the efficacy of treatments. 

[What ADHDer Should Have]What Anyone Dealing With ADHD Should Have

People with ADHD may benefit from connecting with others in the same situation to share experiences, provide and receive support, and find a sense of community.

Additionally, given their difficulty in self-regulation, people with ADHD may benefit from group treatment settings because it helps develop a feeling of responsibility, which is essential.

Also, when people with ADHD collaborate with others in the same situation, they are likelier to remain on goal, keep their motivation up, and get more done than when they work alone.

[Practical Tips]Practical Tips for Help in Your Journey with ADHD

People with ADHD need a private community where they may hold each other responsible via a "body doubling" accountability support group and discuss issues like time management, procrastination, organization, relationships, motivation, and emotional regulation. 

If you have ADHD or know someone who does, check out platforms like Numo or Reddit. One thing is for sure – it will help to find other parents and carers who are going through the same things. Most importantly, since the Numo community is small and exclusive, you'll feel like you've found a second family here.

In summary, the Numo app – iOS and Android – is a fantastic resource for individuals with ADHD. It offers them a place to connect with others who are going through similar challenges. It also allows them to belong to a group/community where they can be supported and held responsible for their behavior. 

Scientific Sources
1. Unraveling the Optimum Latent Structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence Supporting ICD and HiTOP Frameworks. Frontiers | Unraveling the Optimum Latent Structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence Supporting ICD and HiTOP Frameworks (frontiersin.org)
2. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder | Nature Reviews Disease Primers

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