2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F03

Unspecified dementia

ICD-10-CM Code:
F03
ICD-10 Code for:
Unspecified dementia
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Mental and behavioural disorders
    (F01–F99)
    • Mental disorders due to known physiological conditions
      (F01-F09)
      • Unspecified dementia
        (F03)

F03 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of unspecified dementia. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like F03 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Specific Coding Applicable to Unspecified dementia

Non-specific codes like F03 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for unspecified dementia:

  • F03.9 for Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.90 for Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

  • F03.91 for Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with behavioral disturbance - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.92 for Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with psychotic disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.93 for Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with mood disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.94 for Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

  • F03.A for Unspecified dementia, mild - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.A0 for Unspecified dementia, mild, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

  • F03.A1 for Unspecified dementia, mild, with behavioral disturbance - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.A2 for Unspecified dementia, mild, with psychotic disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.A3 for Unspecified dementia, mild, with mood disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.A4 for Unspecified dementia, mild, with anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

  • F03.B for Unspecified dementia, moderate - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.B0 for Unspecified dementia, moderate, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

  • F03.B1 for Unspecified dementia, moderate, with behavioral disturbance - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.B2 for Unspecified dementia, moderate, with psychotic disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.B3 for Unspecified dementia, moderate, with mood disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.B4 for Unspecified dementia, moderate, with anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

  • F03.C for Unspecified dementia, severe - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.C0 for Unspecified dementia, severe, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

  • F03.C1 for Unspecified dementia, severe, with behavioral disturbance - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.C2 for Unspecified dementia, severe, with psychotic disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.C3 for Unspecified dementia, severe, with mood disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F03.C4 for Unspecified dementia, severe, with anxiety - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • AIDS Dementia Complex

    a neurologic condition associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and characterized by impaired concentration and memory, slowness of hand movements, ataxia, incontinence, apathy, and gait difficulties associated with hiv-1 viral infection of the central nervous system. pathologic examination of the brain reveals white matter rarefaction, perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes, foamy macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp760-1; n engl j med, 1995 apr 6;332(14):934-40)
  • Alzheimer Disease

    a degenerative disease of the brain characterized by the insidious onset of dementia. impairment of memory, judgment, attention span, and problem solving skills are followed by severe apraxias and a global loss of cognitive abilities. the condition primarily occurs after age 60, and is marked pathologically by severe cortical atrophy and the triad of senile plaques; neurofibrillary tangles; and neuropil threads. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp1049-57)
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    a degenerative disorder affecting upper motor neurons in the brain and lower motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord. disease onset is usually after the age of 50 and the process is usually fatal within 3 to 6 years. clinical manifestations include progressive weakness, atrophy, fasciculation, hyperreflexia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and eventual paralysis of respiratory function. pathologic features include the replacement of motor neurons with fibrous astrocytes and atrophy of anterior spinal nerve roots and corticospinal tracts. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp1089-94)
  • CADASIL

    a familial, cerebral arteriopathy mapped to chromosome 19q12, and characterized by the presence of granular deposits in small cerebral arteries producing ischemic stroke; pseudobulbar palsy; and multiple subcortical infarcts (cerebral infarction). cadasil is an acronym for cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy. cadasil differs from binswanger disease by the presence of migraine with aura and usually by the lack of history of arterial hypertension. (from bradley et al, neurology in clinical practice, 2000, p1146)
  • Dementia

    an acquired organic mental disorder with loss of intellectual abilities of sufficient severity to interfere with social or occupational functioning. the dysfunction is multifaceted and involves memory, behavior, personality, judgment, attention, spatial relations, language, abstract thought, and other executive functions. the intellectual decline is usually progressive, and initially spares the level of consciousness.
  • Dementia, Multi-Infarct

    loss of higher cortical functions with retained awareness due to multiple cortical or subcortical cerebral infarction. memory, judgment, attention span, and impulse control are often impaired, and may be accompanied by pseudobulbar palsy; hemiparesis; reflex abnormalities, and other signs of localized neurologic dysfunction. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p1060)
  • Dementia, Vascular

    an imprecise term referring to dementia associated with cerebrovascular disorders, including cerebral infarction (single or multiple), and conditions associated with chronic brain ischemia. diffuse, cortical, and subcortical subtypes have been described. (from gerontol geriatr 1998 feb;31(1):36-44)
  • Frontotemporal Dementia

    the most common clinical form of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, this dementia presents with personality and behavioral changes often associated with disinhibition, apathy, and lack of insight.
  • Lewy Body Disease

    a neurodegenerative disease characterized by dementia, mild parkinsonism, and fluctuations in attention and alertness. the neuropsychiatric manifestations tend to precede the onset of bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and other extrapyramidal signs. delusions and visual hallucinations are relatively frequent in this condition. histologic examination reveals lewy bodies in the cerebral cortex and brain stem. senile plaques and other pathologic features characteristic of alzheimer disease may also be present. (from neurology 1997;48:376-380; neurology 1996;47:1113-1124)
  • Mental Status and Dementia Tests

    tests designed to assess various aspects of neurocognitive function or dementia.
  • Mixed Dementias

    dementias caused by multiple etiologies, e.g., alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia and/or lewy body disease.
  • Pick Disease of the Brain

    a rare form of dementia that is sometimes familial. clinical features include aphasia; apraxia; confusion; anomia; memory loss; and personality deterioration. this pattern is consistent with the pathologic findings of circumscribed atrophy of the poles of the frontal lobe and temporal lobe. neuronal loss is maximal in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala. some ballooned cortical neurons contain argentophylic (pick) bodies. (from brain pathol 1998 apr;8(2):339-54; adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp1057-9)
  • Postoperative Cognitive Complications

    cognitive impairment or functional decline after a surgical procedure.
  • Prion Diseases

    a group of genetic, infectious, or sporadic degenerative human and animal nervous system disorders associated with abnormal prions. these diseases are characterized by conversion of the normal prion protein to an abnormal configuration via a post-translational process. in humans, these conditions generally feature dementia; ataxia; and a fatal outcome. pathologic features include a spongiform encephalopathy without evidence of inflammation. the older literature occasionally refers to these as unconventional slow virus diseases. (from proc natl acad sci usa 1998 nov 10;95(23):13363-83)
  • Schizophrenia

    a severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, hallucinations, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior.
  • Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

    heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by frontal and temporal lobe atrophy associated with neuronal loss, gliosis, and dementia. patients exhibit progressive changes in social, behavioral, and/or language function. multiple subtypes or forms are recognized based on presence or absence of tau protein inclusions. ftld includes three clinical syndromes: frontotemporal dementia, semantic dementia, and primary progressive nonfluent aphasia.
  • Cognitive Dysfunction

    diminished or impaired mental and/or intellectual function.
  • Hallucinations

    subjectively experienced sensations in the absence of an appropriate stimulus, but which are regarded by the individual as real. they may be of organic origin or associated with mental disorders.

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Major neurocognitive disorder NOS
  • Presenile dementia NOS
  • Presenile psychosis NOS
  • Primary degenerative dementia NOS
  • Senile dementia NOS
  • Senile dementia depressed or paranoid type
  • Senile psychosis NOS

Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • mild memory disturbance due to known physiological condition F06.8
  • senile dementia with delirium or acute confusional state F05

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Patient Education


Dementia

What is dementia?

Dementia is a loss of mental functions that is severe enough to affect your daily life and activities. These functions include:

  • Memory
  • Language skills
  • Visual perception (your ability to make sense of what you see)
  • Problem solving
  • Trouble with everyday tasks
  • The ability to focus and pay attention

It is normal to become a bit more forgetful as you age. But dementia is not a normal part of aging. It is a serious disorder which interferes with your daily life.

What are the types of dementia?

The most common types of dementia are known as neurodegenerative disorders. These are diseases in which the cells of the brain stop working or die. They include:

  • Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia among older people. People with Alzheimer's have plaques and tangles in their brain. These are abnormal buildups of different proteins. Beta-amyloid protein clumps up and forms plaques in between your brain cells. Tau protein builds up and forms tangles inside the nerve cells of your brain. There is also a loss of connection between nerve cells in the brain.
  • Lewy body dementia, which causes movement symptoms along with dementia. Lewy bodies are abnormal deposits of a protein in the brain.
  • Frontotemporal disorders, which cause changes to certain parts of the brain:
    • Changes in the frontal lobe lead to behavioral symptoms
    • Changes in the temporal lobe lead to language and emotional disorders
  • Vascular dementia, which involves changes to the brain's blood supply. It is often caused by a stroke or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the brain.
  • Mixed dementia, which is a combination of two or more types of dementia. For example, some people have both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Other conditions can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms, including:

  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder
  • Huntington's disease, an inherited, progressive brain disease
  • Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repeated traumatic brain injury
  • HIV-associated dementia (HAD)

Who is at risk for dementia?

Certain factors can raise your risk for developing dementia, including:

  • Aging. This is the biggest risk factor for dementia.
  • Smoking
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Having close family members who have dementia

What are the symptoms of dementia?

The symptoms of dementia can vary, depending on which parts of the brain are affected. Often, forgetfulness is the first symptom. Dementia also causes problems with the ability to think, problem solve, and reason. For example, people with dementia may:

  • Get lost in a familiar neighborhood
  • Use unusual words to refer to familiar objects
  • Forget the name of a close family member or friend
  • Forget old memories
  • Need help doing tasks that they used to do by themselves

Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions and their personalities may change. They may become apathetic, meaning that they are no longer interested in normal daily activities or events. They may lose their inhibitions and stop caring about other peoples' feelings.

Certain types of dementia can also cause problems with balance and movement.

The stages of dementia range from mild to severe. In the mildest stage, it is just beginning to affect a person's functioning. In the most severe stage, the person is completely dependent on others for care.

How is dementia diagnosed?

Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis:

  • A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms
  • A physical exam
  • Tests of your thinking, memory, and language abilities
  • Other tests, such as blood tests, genetic tests, and brain scans
  • A mental health evaluation to see whether a mental disorder is contributing to your symptoms

What are the treatments for dementia?

There is no cure for most types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. Treatments may help to maintain mental function longer, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow down the symptoms of disease. They may include:

  • Medicines may temporarily improve memory and thinking or slow down their decline. They only work in some people. Other medicines can treat symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and muscle stiffness. Some of these medicines can cause strong side effects in people with dementia. It is important to talk to your health care provider about which medicines will be safe for you.
  • Occupational therapy to help find ways to more easily do everyday activities
  • Speech therapy to help with swallowing difficulties and trouble speaking loudly and clearly
  • Mental health counseling to help people with dementia and their families learn how to manage difficult emotions and behaviors. It can also help them plan for the future.
  • Music or art therapy to reduce anxiety and improve well-being

Can dementia be prevented?

Researchers have not found a proven way to prevent dementia. Living a healthy lifestyle might influence some of your risk factors for dementia.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.