G11.2
BillableLate-onset cerebellar ataxia
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 200 — Cerebellar Ataxia and Other Degenerative Diseases of Nervous System
0.262V24HCC 72 — Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries
0.464ESRDHCC 72 — Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries
0.000What This Code Means
Late-onset cerebellar ataxia is a disorder affecting balance and coordination that develops in adulthood or later in life.
Coding Tips
- •Document the age of onset to confirm it qualifies as late-onset
- •Specify the type if known (e.g., spinocerebellar ataxia, multiple system atrophy) for more precise coding
Clinical Significance
Late-onset cerebellar ataxia encompasses progressive coordination disorders that develop in adulthood, including many spinocerebellar ataxias. These conditions cause significant disability through progressive gait instability, falls, dysarthria, and eventual loss of independence, requiring long-term neurological management and rehabilitation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Age of onset documented as adulthood or later life
- ✓Progressive nature of cerebellar symptoms documented
- ✓Neurological examination findings (gait ataxia, limb dysmetria, dysarthria, nystagmus)
- ✓Brain MRI showing cerebellar atrophy if performed
- ✓Genetic testing results for spinocerebellar ataxia subtypes if obtained
- ✓Family history assessment for hereditary vs sporadic forms
Commonly Confused Codes
G11.10 — Early-onset cerebellar ataxia: onset in childhood, not adulthoodR27.0 — Ataxia, unspecified: a symptom code, not appropriate when a specific ataxia diagnosis is establishedG31.89 — Other specified degenerative diseases of nervous system: broader category that may overlapG11.9 — Hereditary ataxia, unspecified: use only when the hereditary nature is confirmed but onset timing is unknown