Vascular dementia, a common type of dementia, is caused due to different conditions that interrupt blood flow to various regions of the brain. This health condition is characterized by a decline in thinking and cognitive skills due to a lack of supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. The symptoms of vascular dementia are similar to Alzheimer’s disease. To prevent exacerbation of the symptoms, patients have to be monitored constantly. As individualized care is essential in such demanding situations, neurology medical billing and coding companies can assist physicians in the timely submission of claims for accurate reimbursement.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
The symptoms are more profound after a major stroke. With reference to alz.org, the symptoms of vascular dementia are:
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Physical stroke symptoms like headache
- Difficulty walking
- Poor balance
- Numbness or paralysis on one side of the face or the body
Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia
- Neurocognitive tests are done to evaluate the memory of the patient and specific thinking skills such as judgment, planning, and reasoning.
- Imaging of the brain is done to confirm a recent stroke and other vascular brain changes. Brain imaging procedures include MRI and CT scans.
- Lab tests of the blood are done to test blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. Vitamin deficiencies are also checked.
CPT Codes
CPT codes to document neurocognitive tests
- 96132
Neuropsychological testing evaluation services by a physician or other qualified health care professional, including integration of patient data, interpretation of standardized test results and clinical data, clinical decision making, treatment planning, and report and interactive feedback to the patient, family member(s) or caregiver(s), when performed; first hour.
- 96136
Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by physician or other qualified health care professional, two or more tests, any method, first 30 minutes.
CPT codes to Record MRI scan
- 70551
The provider uses magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to examine the brain and brain stem. The provider does not administer contrast for this exam.
- 70553
In this procedure, the provider performs a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, study of the brain including the brain stem. He performs this procedure without using contrast material. He then follows with contrast material and takes more images.
- 70544
The provider performs magnetic resonance angiography of the vessels of the head and surrounding areas. The provider does not use contrast.
CPT Codes To Record CT Scan
- 70470
The provider performs computed tomography, or CT scanning, of the head or brain, first without and then with contrast and additional images. He performs the procedure to diagnose any brain or intracranial abnormalities, such as a cerebral aneurysm.
- 70460
The provider performs computed tomography, or CT scanning, of the head or brain, with contrast. He performs the procedure to diagnose any brain or intracranial abnormalities, such as a cerebral aneurysm.
ICD-10 Codes to Report Vascular Dementia
- F01.50: Vascular dementia without behavioral disturbance
- F01.51: Vascular dementia with behavioral disturbance
Diagnosing vascular dementia is quite a challenge for physicians. Urgent care and support are indispensable to identify the underlying cause of vascular dementia and its associated symptoms. A reputable medical billing and coding company can expedite accurate coding using CPT and ICD-10 codes, provided the physicians record precise symptoms observed in the patients.
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