What Is the ICD-10 Code for ADHD? A Quick Guide for Clinicians

Updated on: July 20, 2025

The ICD-10 code for ADHD is F90, with specific subtypes designated by additional digits:

• F90.0: Predominantly Inattentive Type
• F90.1: Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
• F90.2: Combined Type (most common, affecting ~70% of cases)
• F90.8: Other Specified ADHD
• F90.9: Unspecified ADHD

Accurate coding is critical for proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and reimbursement. Errors can lead to claim denials and delays in care. For clinicians, understanding these codes ensures clear documentation and better patient outcomes.

Quick Overview of ADHD ICD-10 Codes:

Proper documentation of symptom patterns and comorbid conditions is essential for selecting the right code and ensuring effective care.

Understanding ADHD ICD-10 Code

ADHD ICD-10 Code Structure

Understanding how ADHD is categorized within the ICD-10 system can help clinicians streamline documentation and improve communication. ADHD codes are part of the broader category "F90-98 Behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence". Within this group, ADHD falls under the subsection "Hyperkinetic disorders". The ICD-10 system uses alphanumeric codes to classify diseases systematically, offering a framework that identifies ADHD and its symptom profiles. Let’s break down the base code F90 and its extensions.

The Main ADHD Code: F90

The core ICD-10 code for ADHD is F90, which serves as the foundation for all ADHD-related diagnoses. This base code is expanded with additional digits to specify the unique symptom patterns for individual patients. The F90 series is dedicated solely to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This coding structure ensures clear communication across healthcare providers, insurance companies, and researchers.

ADHD Subtypes and Their Codes

The ICD-10 system recognizes that ADHD manifests differently in individuals, with specific codes to reflect these variations. Here’s a breakdown:

• F90.0 (Predominantly Inattentive Type): Characterized by symptoms such as forgetfulness, distractibility, and difficulty maintaining focus. These individuals primarily struggle with attention-related issues.
• F90.1 (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type): Defined by behaviors like restlessness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, without significant problems with attention. These patients often exhibit high energy and find it hard to control their impulses.
• F90.2 (Combined Type): Includes both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. This is the most common subtype, affecting about 70% of children and adults diagnosed with ADHD.

Additional codes cover less typical presentations: F90.8 (Other Specified Type) is used for cases that don’t fit neatly into the defined subtypes, while F90.9 (Unspecified Type) applies when the diagnosis lacks clear symptom specification. These distinctions are crucial for clinical accuracy. Proper documentation of symptoms and any coexisting conditions ensures the right code is selected, which directly impacts treatment planning and patient care.

Complete List of ADHD ICD-10 Codes

Here’s a detailed breakdown of ADHD ICD-10 codes and their clinical applications. Each subtype plays a key role in guiding accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Proper documentation ensures precise coding and supports effective care strategies.

F90.0: Predominantly Inattentive Type

This code is for individuals who primarily struggle with attention-related challenges, without significant hyperactivity or impulsivity. Common traits include being easily distracted, forgetful, and avoiding tasks requiring prolonged focus. These individuals often appear disorganized in various settings. When documenting, highlight difficulties with sustained attention and task completion. Use specific behavioral observations and, when applicable, age-appropriate rating scales to support the diagnosis.

F90.1: Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

F90.1 applies to cases where hyperactivity and impulsivity are the dominant symptoms. These individuals may exhibit behaviors such as restlessness, difficulty staying seated, excessive talking, or acting without considering consequences. Clinical documentation should focus on observable signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity, such as fidgeting or interrupting conversations.

F90.2: Combined Type

This code is used when both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are present. Since symptoms span multiple areas, treatment often requires a more comprehensive approach. Accurate documentation of both types of symptoms is essential for this classification.

F90.8/F90.9: Other Specified/Unspecified ADHD

• F90.8 (Other Specified ADHD): This code is reserved for atypical presentations that don’t fully align with the defined subtypes. For instance, a child with attention difficulties in school that don’t meet the full criteria for the inattentive type might fall under this category.
• F90.9 (Unspecified ADHD): Use this code when the diagnosis lacks clear specification of predominant symptoms. It’s appropriate when a more specific ADHD type cannot be determined. However, avoid using F90.8 or F90.9 for attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity.

Accurate differentiation between these codes is critical for targeted treatment and proper reimbursement.

To ensure accurate coding, clinicians should carefully review the patient’s history and clinical observations. Input from parents, teachers, or supervisors can provide valuable insights into the individual’s symptoms across different environments, aiding in both diagnosis and treatment planning.

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Why Accurate ADHD Coding Matters

Accurate ADHD coding isn’t just about administrative precision – it directly impacts patient care, practice efficiency, and financial outcomes. With studies showing that coding accuracy is only 63%, the ripple effects of errors are significant. From treatment delays to reimbursement issues, coding mistakes can disrupt the entire healthcare process. Understanding the importance of precision in ADHD coding helps clinicians address this critical aspect of patient management.

Better Clinical Documentation and Workflow

Getting ADHD coding right can transform how healthcare teams work together. By using specific codes – like F90.0 for predominantly inattentive type or F90.2 for combined presentation – you create a clear and actionable framework for everyone involved in a patient’s care.

When coding aligns with clinical observations, communication becomes seamless. For example, a psychiatrist can quickly understand whether they’re dealing with hyperactive-impulsive symptoms (F90.1) or focus-related deficits (F90.0) without wading through lengthy notes. This clarity is especially valuable in team-based care environments, where multiple providers collaborate on treatment plans. Standardized documentation templates and systematic coding practices further enhance workflow efficiency, ensuring consistency across your practice.

"Mastering the ICD-10 coding system isn’t just about billing – it’s about providing the best possible care for our patients." – Carlene MacMillan, M.D.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems equipped with ADHD-specific templates and progress tracking tools can simplify documentation. These tools not only save time on administrative tasks but also improve the quality of clinical records, ensuring all necessary elements are captured.

Insurance Claims and Reimbursement

Accurate ADHD coding plays a critical role in navigating insurance claims and securing timely reimbursements. Errors in diagnosis codes often lead to claim denials, which can delay or restrict patients’ access to essential care. Considering that ADHD’s economic impact in the U.S. exceeds $140 billion annually, precise coding is vital for maintaining the financial stability of healthcare practices.

Inconsistent coding can result in reimbursement delays, as insurers may request additional documentation or outright deny claims. This disrupts cash flow for practices and can interrupt treatment for patients – a particularly concerning issue for ADHD management, where consistent care is essential.

Using outdated or nonspecific codes, omitting symptom details, or failing to meet payer-specific requirements can all trigger claim denials. To avoid these pitfalls, providers should ensure clinical notes are thorough and verify payer policies. For instance, the combined type (F90.2), which accounts for approximately 70% of all ADHD diagnoses, requires detailed documentation of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms to ensure smooth claims processing.

Better Patient Care and Continuity

Beyond documentation and billing, accurate ADHD coding is fundamental to effective treatment and care continuity. Specific codes allow for tailored treatment plans and smoother transitions between care settings. This is particularly important given that 60 to 90 percent of children with ADHD also have at least one comorbid condition, making comprehensive coding essential.

For example, a patient diagnosed with F90.0 (predominantly inattentive) may need different interventions than someone with F90.1 (predominantly hyperactive-impulsive). Accurate coding helps clinicians identify symptom patterns and select appropriate treatments from the outset.

Continuity of care also benefits when coding reflects the patient’s condition accurately. Whether transitioning from pediatric to adult care or moving between healthcare systems, precise codes provide new providers with essential context. This is especially crucial since 75% of ADHD cases respond positively to stimulant medication, making treatment history a key component of ongoing management.

Accurate coding is equally important for managing comorbidities. When ADHD overlaps with conditions like anxiety, depression, or learning disabilities, assigning additional ICD codes ensures a more comprehensive approach to care. This not only supports better care coordination but also helps justify the need for various interventions.

Research highlights the importance of early follow-ups after starting medication and timely adjustments, as these are linked to better medication adherence and continuity. Accurate coding facilitates these practices by clearly documenting treatment responses and the patient’s evolving needs, ultimately supporting more effective long-term management.

How DocScrib Helps with ADHD Documentation

Accurate ADHD coding is essential, yet clinicians often face overwhelming administrative demands. Enter DocScrib – a tool designed to ease these burdens. With clinicians spending over 2 hours daily on administrative tasks instead of patient care, and practices losing an average of $65,000 annually due to inefficiencies, DocScrib redefines ADHD documentation. From initial assessments to ongoing treatment records, it simplifies workflows and ensures precise ICD-10 coding, giving healthcare providers more time to focus on their patients.

Key Features for ADHD Documentation

DocScrib’s real-time transcription captures critical details during evaluations, ensuring that symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity, or combined presentations are accurately documented. The platform includes customizable templates aligned with DSM-5 criteria, covering symptoms across home, school, and work settings. Clinicians can tweak these templates using AI-generated suggestions to ensure all necessary details are captured. By storing individual preferences and corrections, it maintains consistency in documentation. The system also automates the creation of clinical notes, patient letters, billing codes, and summaries, streamlining the workflow for ADHD-focused practices.

Automated Billing Workflows

Billing for ADHD care can be complex, but DocScrib simplifies it by generating accurate ICD-10 codes directly from clinical documentation. With ADHD-related costs exceeding $140 billion annually, precise coding is critical for practice sustainability. DocScrib suggests specific codes, such as F90.0 for inattentive and F90.2 for combined presentations, based on clinical notes. It also automates coding for comorbid conditions – like anxiety, depression, or learning disabilities – which affect 60 to 90 percent of children with ADHD. This automation not only reduces the administrative burden but also ensures billing accuracy and thorough documentation.

Increased Efficiency and Fewer Errors

Healthcare providers using DocScrib report dramatic improvements in both efficiency and accuracy. Studies show that AI scribes can make clinicians twice as fast and effective in patient care tasks, allowing more time for in-depth evaluations and patient interactions. For instance, one pediatric practice that adopted DocScrib for both well and sick visits reported a 90% reduction in end-of-day note backlog, better accuracy in growth tracking and developmental screenings, and a 20% increase in daily visit capacity over a six-week period.

The platform has also significantly boosted clinician satisfaction. Lisa Terwilliger, a therapist, shares: "DocScrib truly captures the work I do with clients and allows me to get home earlier while meeting professional noting standards." Similarly, Corey Dickinson, a Family Nurse Practitioner, remarks: "It helps me deliver better notes while staying fully engaged with my patients." Shelbie Scharf from Family Medicine adds: "It has saved me so much time with documentation, I am able to spend that time with my patients rather than spending the time dictating or typing my notes".

DocScrib’s AI-driven error reduction ensures that ADHD symptom criteria are met for accurate coding. By capturing and categorizing all necessary details, it minimizes coding mistakes that could affect patient care or reimbursement. This level of precision enhances both billing efficiency and the quality of care, helping providers meet the high standards required for ADHD diagnosis and treatment.

Conclusion

Accurate ICD-10 coding plays a crucial role in delivering effective care for patients with ADHD. With millions of Americans living with this condition, healthcare providers rely on precise coding to ensure proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and practice management.

The F90 series of ICD-10 codes, which covers inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined ADHD types, is essential for securing appropriate reimbursement, facilitating clear communication between providers, and crafting targeted treatment plans.

To address the challenges of complex documentation, tools like DocScrib have stepped in to simplify the process. By automating tasks like transcription, note generation, and ICD-10 coding, DocScrib reduces administrative burdens by 20–30%.

For clinicians treating ADHD, using efficient documentation tools is about more than saving time – it’s about maintaining coding accuracy that supports better treatment outcomes and reimbursement processes. As the healthcare landscape grows more intricate, adopting digital solutions can help practices deliver high-quality care while managing the demands of modern medicine.

FAQs

Why is accurate ADHD coding essential for clinicians and patients?

Accurate ADHD coding plays a crucial role in ensuring effective diagnosis and treatment planning. By clearly documenting a patient’s condition, it enhances communication among healthcare professionals, ultimately leading to better care delivery.

Beyond care quality, precise coding is essential for proper billing and reimbursement. It minimizes administrative errors, ensures compliance with healthcare regulations, and prevents delays in treatment or insurance coverage. For clinicians, this accuracy supports smoother workflows, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

How does the ICD-10 coding system for ADHD help streamline communication among healthcare providers?

The ICD-10 coding system for ADHD improves communication by assigning specific, standardized codes to different ADHD types: inattentive (F90.0), hyperactive-impulsive (F90.1), and combined (F90.2). These codes bring consistency to clinical documentation, helping reduce errors and fostering better collaboration among healthcare providers.

Using accurate codes also streamlines workflows, making it easier for healthcare teams to share information and concentrate on patient care. With these precise codes, clinicians can simplify billing, monitor patient progress more efficiently, and ensure their documentation meets industry requirements.

How does DocScrib improve the accuracy and efficiency of ADHD documentation for clinicians?

DocScrib simplifies ADHD documentation with easy-to-use digital tools such as customizable templates, helpful prompts, and built-in assessment features. These tools assist clinicians in improving diagnostic precision, minimizing mistakes, and saving valuable time during both documentation and billing.

By automating routine tasks and organizing workflows, DocScrib frees up clinicians to spend more time on patient care. At the same time, it ensures they maintain accurate and well-organized records, supporting both effective treatment and smoother administrative processes.

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