F10.27

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

A person who is dependent on alcohol and has developed dementia (progressive brain damage with memory loss and cognitive decline) from long-term alcohol use.

Coding Tips

• •This represents permanent cognitive damage from chronic alcohol use, distinct from reversible intoxication effects
• •Document the degree of cognitive impairment and functional decline

Clinical Significance

This code captures alcohol dependence with alcohol-induced persisting dementia, documenting a psychiatric manifestation directly caused by alcohol use. The distinction between substance-induced psychiatric symptoms and primary psychiatric disorders is clinically crucial for treatment planning — substance-induced conditions may resolve with sustained sobriety. These combination codes carry higher risk adjustment weight reflecting the dual complexity of substance use disorder combined with psychiatric comorbidity.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Documentation of alcohol dependence with at least three of: tolerance, withdrawal, use in larger amounts/longer periods than intended, persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down, significant time spent obtaining/using/recovering, important activities given up, continued use despite knowledge of physical/psychological problems
• ✓Documentation that the persisting dementia is directly attributable to alcohol use, not a primary/independent psychiatric disorder
• ✓Documentation of persistent, broad cognitive decline attributable to chronic alcohol use, distinct from isolated amnestic disorder
• ✓Assessment and plan addressing alcohol use disorder with treatment recommendations (counseling, medication-assisted treatment, referral, etc.)

Commonly Confused Codes