How To Use CPT Code 1490F

CPT 1490F describes the classification of mild dementia severity in a patient. This article will cover the official description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples.

1. What is CPT Code 1490F?

CPT 1490F can be used to classify the severity of dementia in a patient as mild. This code is used when the patient exhibits symptoms such as difficulty in concentrating, forgetfulness, or managing complex tasks. The provider uses various tools and techniques to assess the patient’s cognitive and functional impairment and determines the stage of dementia.

2. Official Description

The official description of CPT code 1490F is: ‘Dementia severity classified, mild (DEM).’ This code is used to identify a patient of any age who is diagnosed with dementia and classified as having mild severity.

3. Procedure

1. The provider assesses the patient’s cognitive and functional impairment using tools such as the global deterioration scale (GDS), functional assessment staging test (FAST), clinical dementia rating (CDR), dementia severity rating scale (DSRS), or mini mental state examination (MMSE).
2. Based on the assessment, the provider determines the severity of the dementia and classifies it as mild.
3. The provider documents the severity of the dementia and the date of the measurement in the patient’s healthcare record.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients eligible for CPT 1490F are those who have been diagnosed with dementia and exhibit symptoms of mild severity. These symptoms may include difficulty in concentrating, forgetfulness, or managing complex tasks. The provider must use one or more of the functional tools and techniques to assess the patient’s cognitive and functional impairment and classify the severity of the dementia.

5. When to use CPT code 1490F

CPT code 1490F should be used when a patient is diagnosed with dementia and classified as having mild severity. It is important to accurately document the severity of the dementia and the date of the measurement in the patient’s healthcare record.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 1490F, the provider must document the following information:

• Diagnosis of dementia
• Classification of dementia severity as mild
• Date of the measurement

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT 1490F, ensure that the patient has been diagnosed with dementia and classified as having mild severity. This code should be reported at least once within a 12-month period. There are no specific guidelines regarding reporting CPT 1490F with other codes.

8. Historical information

CPT 1490F was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 2012. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.

9. Examples

1. A provider diagnoses a patient with dementia and classifies the severity as mild based on the patient’s difficulty in concentrating and forgetfulness.
2. Using the functional assessment staging test (FAST), a provider determines that a patient’s dementia is in the mild stage due to the patient’s ability to manage simple daily activities but struggles with complex tasks.
3. Based on the global deterioration scale (GDS), a provider rates a patient’s cognitive and functional decline as mild, indicating mild severity of dementia.
4. Using the mini mental state examination (MMSE), a provider assesses a patient’s cognitive impairment and determines that the severity of dementia is mild.
5. A provider utilizes the dementia severity rating scale (DSRS) to assess a patient’s functional and cognitive impairment and classifies the severity of dementia as mild.