G80.3
BillableAthetoid cerebral palsy
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 192 — Cerebral Palsy, Except Quadriplegic
0.368V24HCC 74 — Cerebral Palsy
0.000ESRDHCC 74 — Cerebral Palsy
0.000What This Code Means
A type of cerebral palsy characterized by involuntary, uncontrolled movements and fluctuating muscle tone rather than stiffness.
Coding Tips
- •Athetoid cerebral palsy presents with writhing, twisting movements; document the pattern and frequency of involuntary movements
- •Often associated with hearing problems and speech difficulties; code these conditions if present
Clinical Significance
Athetoid (dyskinetic) cerebral palsy is characterized by involuntary, writhing movements and fluctuating muscle tone rather than the constant stiffness seen in spastic types. It is most commonly caused by bilirubin encephalopathy or asphyxia-related basal ganglia injury. These patients often have normal intelligence but severe motor impairment, creating unique challenges for communication, feeding, and daily functioning.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Diagnosis of cerebral palsy with athetoid/dyskinetic type specified
- ✓Description of involuntary movement patterns: athetosis, chorea, dystonia
- ✓Underlying etiology when known: kernicterus, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- ✓Speech and communication assessment: dysarthria severity, alternative communication needs
- ✓Feeding and swallowing function evaluation
- ✓Cognitive assessment: intelligence is often preserved, document accurately
- ✓Current therapy: medications for movement control, physical/occupational/speech therapy
Commonly Confused Codes
G80.0 — Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy features rigidity and spasticity, not involuntary movementsG80.1 — Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy has lower extremity spasticity, not dyskinesiaG80.4 — Ataxic cerebral palsy features balance and coordination problems, not involuntary movementsG25.5 — Other chorea is for acquired chorea, not congenital cerebral palsy-related movement disorder