2025 ICD-10-CM code Z91.83
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Factors influencing health status and contact with health services - Wandering in diseases classified elsewhere 21 Feed
Wandering in diseases classified elsewhere. Code first the underlying disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease, autism, intellectual disabilities, or unspecified dementia with behavioral disturbance.
Medical necessity for Z91.83 is established by the presence of a documented medical condition that causes wandering behavior.The wandering behavior must pose a risk to the patient's safety or well-being. The documentation should support the need for interventions or management strategies to address the wandering.
The healthcare provider is responsible for documenting the wandering behavior and coding it appropriately, along with diagnosing and coding the underlying condition causing the wandering.
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- Persons with potential health hazards related to family and personal history and certain conditions influencing health status (Z77-Z99)
In simple words: This code is used when a person with a medical condition wanders or strays from their surroundings. It's important to also record the specific medical condition causing this wandering.
This code identifies wandering in patients with a diagnosed disease or condition.It's crucial to code the underlying condition first. Examples of underlying conditions include Alzheimer's disease (G30.-), autism or pervasive developmental disorder (F84.-), intellectual disabilities (F70-F79), and unspecified dementia with behavioral disturbance (F03.9-, F03.A-, F03.B-, F03.C-).
Example 1: A patient with Alzheimer's disease (G30.9) is admitted to a nursing facility due to increased wandering episodes., An autistic child (F84.0) with a history of wandering is brought to the emergency room after being found far from home., A patient with Down syndrome (F70.9) and associated intellectual disability exhibits wandering behavior during a routine check-up.
Documentation should clearly state the patient's wandering behavior and the underlying medical condition causing it. Details about the frequency, severity, and circumstances surrounding the wandering episodes are essential. Any safety interventions or assessments related to wandering should also be documented.
** The Z91.83 code can be used to track wandering behavior in patients with various conditions, which can help in developing safety plans and interventions to reduce risks. While not a primary diagnosis, it adds valuable information about the patient's condition and needs. It is important to differentiate between wandering due to a medical condition and wandering due to other factors, such as exploration or seeking attention, which would not be coded as Z91.83.
- Specialties:Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Neurology, Family Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Nursing Facility, Office, Home, Emergency Room - Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Psychiatric Facility-Partial Hospitalization, Community Mental Health Center