G40.319
BillableGeneralized idiopathic epilepsy and epileptic syndromes, intractable, without status epilepticus
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 201 — Seizure Disorders and Convulsions
0.262V24HCC 79 — Seizure Disorders and Convulsions
0.244ESRDHCC 79 — Seizure Disorders and Convulsions
0.000RxHCCHCC 163 — Seizure Disorders, Intractable Epilepsy
0.000What This Code Means
A generalized epilepsy that affects the entire brain from the start and is difficult to control with medication, but the patient is not currently in status epilepticus.
Coding Tips
- •Document multiple failed antiepileptic drug trials to justify the intractable classification
- •Consider noting if the patient is a candidate for surgical intervention or newer treatment options
Clinical Significance
This code captures generalized idiopathic epilepsy that is drug-resistant (intractable) but without current status epilepticus. These patients have ongoing generalized seizures despite adequate medication trials. They represent a population with significant ongoing care needs and may be candidates for advanced interventions such as vagus nerve stimulation, responsive neurostimulation, or dietary therapies.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of generalized idiopathic epilepsy (bilateral onset, no identified cause)
- ✓Evidence of intractable status: documented failure of at least 2 adequate antiepileptic drug trials
- ✓Ongoing seizure frequency despite treatment compliance
- ✓Confirmation that patient is NOT currently in status epilepticus
- ✓Documentation of current and failed medication regimens
- ✓Assessment for advanced treatment options (neurostimulation, dietary therapy, clinical trials)
Commonly Confused Codes
G40.309 — Same type, NOT intractable; medication responsiveG40.311 — Same type, intractable, WITH status epilepticus; acute emergencyG40.019 — FOCAL idiopathic epilepsy, intractable; focal onset patternG40.419 — Other generalized epilepsy, intractable; different etiology classificationG40.919 — Epilepsy unspecified, intractable; less specific
Code Hierarchy
└G40Epilepsy and recurrent seizures└G40.3Generalized idiopathic epilepsy and epileptic syndromes└G40.31Generalized idiopathic epilepsy and epileptic syndromes, intractable└G40.319Generalized idiopathic epilepsy and epileptic syndromes, intractable, without status epilepticus
└G40.319Generalized idiopathic epilepsy and epileptic syndromes, intractable, without status epilepticus