F84.9
BillablePervasive developmental disorder, unspecified
HCC Category Mapping
RxHCCHCC 133 — Personality Disorders, Anxiety, and Other Specified Mental Disorders
0.000What This Code Means
A pervasive developmental disorder affecting social communication and behavior, but the specific type cannot be determined or is not further specified.
Coding Tips
Clinical Significance
Unspecified pervasive developmental disorder is used when the provider documents a PDD/autism spectrum condition but does not specify the type. This was historically used for 'PDD-NOS' (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) and may still appear in records of patients diagnosed under DSM-IV criteria. While clinically valid, pursuing specificity improves care planning.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation of a pervasive developmental disorder
- ✓Evidence of social communication deficits and/or restricted repetitive behaviors
- ✓Documentation that the condition does not fully meet criteria for a specific PDD category, or that the specific type has not been determined
- ✓Query opportunity — if possible, clarify with the provider whether the diagnosis meets criteria for F84.0 (autism) or F84.5 (Asperger's)
- ✓Current treatment plan and functional status documentation
Commonly Confused Codes
F84.0 — Autistic disorder; if autism/ASD is documented, use F84.0, not the unspecified codeF84.5 — Asperger's syndrome; if Asperger's is documented, use the specific codeF84.8 — Other pervasive developmental disorders; for specific atypical PDD presentationsF88 — Other disorders of psychological development; for developmental issues not meeting PDD criteria
Code Hierarchy
└F84Pervasive developmental disorders└F84.9Pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified
└F84.9Pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified