What ICD-10 Code is for Other Stimulant Abuse?

Understanding F15: The ICD-10 Code for Other Stimulant Abuse

Trademarked, updated, and published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is currently on its 11th major revision. Also known as the ICD-11, this coding system has yet to be adopted in the United States. At present, the U.S. healthcare system relies on the ICD-10, which was introduced in October 2015. For all billing, coding, and medical data tracking, the U.S. uses a clinically modified version of this classification known as the ICD-10-CM.

In both the international ICD-10 and the clinically modified ICD-10-CM, the ICD-10 code for other stimulant abuse is F15. This code is classed in the ICD-10 section F01-F99 for mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

ICD-10 vs. ICD-10-CM for the Classification of Stimulant Abuse

While the ICD-10 published by the WHO was expansive and detailed enough to meet the basic needs of many of its member countries, it proved too limited in scope for the purposes of governing agencies within the United States. These include the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As part of the CDC, the NCHS created the ICD-10-CM for the purpose of better tracking mortality and providing more accurate and concise coding on death certificates. The CDC uses this same modified coding system for disease surveillance and pathology tracking among other things. The CMS uses the ICD-10-CM along with another modified version of the ICD-10 known as the ICD-10-PCS (procedure coding system) to govern medical billing operations.

Clinical Modifications for Further Clarification of Complex Disorders

While both U.S. modifications of the ICD-10 are streamlined to suit the overarching recording, tracking, and sharing goals of the NCHS, CDC, and CMS, they also provide far more robust coding systems for substance abuse. The international ICD-10 is a four-digit alphanumeric coding system with each code having a letter as its first digit, two numbers after the letter, a decimal point, and a fourth number. In most instances, the fourth number or the number that follows the decimal point is zero. Although this fourth digit can be used for multiple purposes, it often serves as an unnecessary placeholder.

The ICD-10-CM mimics this same format. However, for most codes, especially for those involving complex disorders such as stimulant abuse, multiple digits follow the decimal point. These additional digits distinguish disorders according to differences in their presentation, their requirements for treatment, and other factors. The result is a more precise code for each type and level of stimulant abuse.

Greater Specificity and Its Impact on Coding for Other Stimulant Abuse

In the case of other stimulant abuse, F15 is the primary ICD-10-CM code, but there are 46 sub-codes denoting different stimulate-induced effects, different levels of stimulant abuse, and other factors pertaining to the patient’s condition, health status, recovery, and more. To compare, whereas ICD-10 codes have between three and four digits, ICD-10-CM codes have between three and seven. The more digits that an ICD-10-CM code has, the more specific the related diagnosis becomes.

All ICD-10 Codes for Other Stimulant Abuse

There are nine ICD-10 codes for other stimulant abuse with each falling under F15 for classification purposes.

F15.1 is the ICD-10 code for mental and behavioral disorders caused by stimulant abuse, including caffeine. F15.1 specifically denotes harmful abuse.
In the ICD-10, F15.2 denotes other stimulant abuse. This designation includes caffeine dependence syndrome.
F15.3 is the ICD-10 code for mental and behavioral disorders caused by stimulant abuse, and it specifically references caffeine withdrawal.
F15.4 is the ICD code that references mental and behavioral disorders resulting from stimulant abuse, specifically caffeine withdrawal with delirium.
F15.5 is the ICD-10 code for mental and behavioral disorders caused by stimulant abuse, including caffeine. It is specifically for psychotic disorder resulting from stimulant abuse.
F15.6 is the ICD-10 code mental and behavioral disorders due to stimulant abuse, specifically amnesic syndrome. F15.6 includes caffeine abuse.
F15.7 is the ICD-10 code for mental and behavioral disorders due to stimulant abuse, specifically, late-onset and residual psychotic disorder
F15.8 is the ICD-10 code for mental and behavioral disorders caused by other stimulant abuse, including caffeine abuse.
F15.9 is the ICD-10 code for unspecified mental and behavioral disorders caused by stimulant abuse, including caffeine.

All ICD-10-CM Codes for Other Simulant Abuse

For the purpose of recording, tracking, and billing for patient care in the United States, the ICD-10-CM codes under F15 must be used for other stimulant abuse. The ICD-10-CM codes for other stimulant abuse are noticeably more robust than those of the ICD-10. The ICD-10-CM includes more than 40 F15 codes in comparison to just nine from the international classification system.

Distinctions Made by ICD-10-CM Codes for Other Stimulant Abuse

Not only do ICD-10-CM codes consider a greater number of stimulant abuse categories, but these codes also account for the differences between abuse and dependence, remission or recovery, and secondary conditions.

Other stimulant abuse, uncomplicated
Other stimulant abuse, in remission
Other stimulant abuse, uncomplicated, with intoxication
Other stimulant abuse with intoxication and delirium
Other stimulant abuse with perceptual disturbance and intoxication
Other stimulant abuse with intoxication, unspecified
Other stimulant abuse with mood disorder induced by stimulants
Other stimulant abuse with delusions and stimulant-induced psychotic disorder
Other stimulant abuse with hallucinations and stimulant-induced psychotic disorder
Other stimulant abuse with stimulant-induced psychotic disorder, unspecified
Other stimulant abuse with stimulant-induced anxiety disorder
Other stimulant abuse with stimulant-induced sexual dysfunction
Other stimulant abuse with stimulant-induced sleep disorder
Other stimulant abuse with other stimulant abuse disorder
Other stimulant abuse with unspecified stimulant-induced disorder
Other stimulant dependence, uncomplicated
Other stimulant dependence, in remission
Other stimulant dependence with intoxication, uncomplicated
Other stimulant dependence with intoxication delirium
Other stimulant dependence with intoxication and perceptual disturbance
Other stimulant dependence with intoxication, unspecified
Other stimulant dependence with withdrawal
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced mood disorder
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced psychotic disorder with delusions
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced psychotic disorder, unspecified
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced anxiety disorder
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced sexual dysfunction
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced sleep disorder
Other stimulant dependence with other stimulant-induced disorder
Other stimulant dependence with unspecified stimulant disorder
Other stimulant use, unspecified, uncomplicated
Other stimulant use, unspecified with intoxication, uncomplicated
Other stimulant use, unspecified with intoxication delirium
Other stimulant use, unspecified with intoxication and perceptual disturbance
Other stimulant use, unspecified with intoxication, unspecified
Other stimulant use unspecified with withdrawal
Other stimulant use unspecified with stimulant-induced mood disorder
Other stimulant use unspecified with stimulant-induced psychotic disorder with delusions
Other stimulant use unspecified with stimulant-induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations
Other stimulant use unspecified with stimulant-induced psychotic disorder, unspecified
Other stimulant use unspecified with stimulant-induced anxiety disorder
Other stimulant dependence with stimulant-induced sexual dysfunction
Other stimulant use dependence with stimulant-induced sleep disorder
Other stimulant dependence unspecified with other stimulant-induced disorder
Other stimulant use unspecified with unspecified stimulant-induced disorder

The Future of ICD-10 Codes

Faced with the challenge of adopting ICD-11 codes, the United States is implementing a plan to gradually phase this new international standard in. Part of this task is migrating one of the world’s largest and most clinically modified ICD-10 code sets. The United States has only recently finished upgrading its IT infrastructure to support the ICD-10-CM and all of its many updates. Moreover, the technologies currently in use are not on par with the ICD-11’s new clustered code structure.

The Benefits of Implementing the ICD-11

Switching to the ICD-11 could provide an impressive range of benefits, especially for healthcare organizations and providers in the U.S. for whom clinically modified ICD codes have long been the norm. The WHO designed the ICD-11 with the goal of ensuring consistent, unmodified use after recognizing that custom clinical modifications prevented the consistent worldwide implementation of the ICD-10. The result is a digital system that’s ready for use “out of the box” and constantly in sync with the latest, accepted medical terminologies.

The ICD-11 also reflects recent updates in medical technology and offers improved clarity in codes to promote more specific coding among users. It additionally includes new chapters on gaming disorder, sexual health, and traditional medicine. The ICD-11 is currently used by more than 60 of the WHO’s member countries and is translated into over 40 languages.

What Recent Changes Mean for the Classification of Other Stimulant Abuse

While there is no set timeline for the transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 in the U.S., some estimates place the expected start date as early as 2025 and as late as 2027 if a clinically modified ICD-11-CM is required. According to the American Academy of Professional Coders, the transition process will likely be both prolonged and patchy. In the interim, healthcare professionals throughout the nation will continue to use F15 as the designation for other stimulant abuse, along with the more the 40 sub-codes that are listed beneath it in the ICD-10-CM.

How AutoNotes Can Help

When there are so many different ICD-10 codes that deal with stimulant abuse, keeping track of each client’s diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment plan can be overwhelming. Luckily, AutoNotes can help healthcare workers and facilities with their notetaking and records needs. Whether you need help generating DAP Notes, SOAP Notes, treatment plans, or any other records for your individual clients, AutoNotes offers AI clinical documentation template options to fit all your needs. We even offer dictation services for faster data input and management. If you or your healthcare practice need more help with your medical documentation, check out AutoNotes and all we can do for you.