Epilepsy — Clinical Documentation Guide (2026)

🔍 Definition

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures resulting from abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Per the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) 2014 operational definition, a person is considered to have epilepsy if they meet one of the following criteria: (1) at least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart; (2) one unprovoked seizure with a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk after two unprovoked seizures (≥60%) over the next 10 years; or (3) diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome.

Key distinction for coders: A seizure is a discrete event (symptom); epilepsy is the underlying disorder. Febrile seizures (R56.0x) and provoked convulsions (R56.1, R56.9) are coded separately and do not, by themselves, constitute epilepsy. According to CDC epidemiological data, approximately 3.4 million people in the United States have active epilepsy, making accurate ICD-10-CM coding essential for risk adjustment, resource allocation, and quality reporting.

Intractable (drug-resistant) epilepsy is defined by the ILAE as failure of adequate trials of two tolerated and appropriately chosen antiepileptic drug (AED) schedules (whether as monotherapy or in combination) to achieve sustained seizure freedom. This distinction is critically important for ICD-10-CM code selection and risk adjustment, as intractable epilepsy codes carry a significantly higher HCC weight under CMS-HCC v28.

🗂️ Alternative Terminology

Epilepsy encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions. Clinicians may use varied terminology across specialties. The table below maps common clinical terms to formal ICD-10-CM language.

🩺 Signs & Symptoms

Clinical presentations vary significantly by seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, and localization. Accurate documentation of semiology (clinical features of the seizure) is essential for both coding specificity and clinical management.

Focal (Partial) Seizures

• Focal aware (simple partial): Motor (clonic jerking, tonic posturing), sensory (tingling, visual phenomena), autonomic (flushing, palpitations), or psychic (déjà vu, fear) symptoms with preserved consciousness. Duration typically 30–120 seconds.
• Focal impaired awareness (complex partial): Altered consciousness, automatisms (lip-smacking, picking, fumbling), post-ictal confusion. Often temporal or frontal lobe origin. Duration 1–3 minutes.
• Focal to bilateral tonic-clonic (secondarily generalized): Begins focally, spreads bilaterally; tonic phase followed by clonic phase; post-ictal Todd paralysis possible.

Generalized Seizures

• Absence (petit mal): Brief (5–30 sec) staring, eye fluttering, no post-ictal period; typical onset ages 4–10 (childhood absence) or adolescence (juvenile). 3 Hz spike-wave on EEG.
• Myoclonic: Sudden, brief muscle jerks; often bilateral proximal limbs; morning predominance in JME; preserved consciousness.
• Atonic (drop attacks): Sudden loss of muscle tone, falls, risk of injury; common in LGS.
• Tonic: Sustained muscle stiffening; often nocturnal; seen in LGS.
• Tonic-clonic (grand mal): Tonic phase (stiffening, cry, apnea) followed by clonic phase (rhythmic jerking); post-ictal confusion, lethargy; tongue biting, urinary incontinence.
• Epileptic spasms: Sudden flexion/extension of trunk and limbs in clusters; peak age 4–12 months; hypsarrhythmia on EEG (West syndrome).

Status Epilepticus

Defined operationally as seizure activity ≥5 minutes or two or more seizures without return to baseline. Clinical features include sustained convulsions, non-convulsive SE (NCSE — altered mental status, subtle motor signs), or refractory SE. Neurocritical Care Society guidelines define refractory SE as failure to respond to two first-line agents.

Syndrome-Specific Features

• Lennox-Gastaut (G40.81x): Triad of mixed seizure types (tonic, atonic, atypical absence), intellectual disability, slow spike-wave (<2.5 Hz) on EEG; onset ages 1–8.
• Dravet syndrome (G40.83x): SCN1A mutation; fever-sensitive prolonged febrile hemiconvulsions in first year of life; progressive cognitive decline; multiple seizure types.
• Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (G40.B): Morning myoclonic jerks, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, absence; onset ages 12–18; photosensitivity; excellent AED response but lifelong treatment often required.

🧭 Differential Diagnosis

Accurate epilepsy coding requires confirmed diagnosis. Multiple conditions mimic seizures and require careful clinical differentiation. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommends EEG and neuroimaging as part of the initial workup to confirm epilepsy diagnosis.

📋 Clinical Indicators for Coders/CDI

The following clinical indicators should be present in the medical record to support epilepsy coding. CDI specialists should review these elements and query if documentation is incomplete.

🦴 Anatomy & Pathophysiology

Epilepsy arises from an imbalance between excitatory (glutamatergic) and inhibitory (GABAergic) neurotransmission, leading to abnormal hypersynchronous neuronal firing. The specific pathophysiology varies by epilepsy type:

Focal Epilepsy

In localization-related epilepsy, a discrete cortical region — the epileptogenic zone — generates seizures. The temporal lobe (especially hippocampus and amygdala) is the most common site, often associated with hippocampal sclerosis (mesial temporal sclerosis). The frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes may also harbor epileptogenic foci from cortical dysplasia, prior infarct, tumor, or trauma. Ictal activity may remain focal (simple partial) or propagate along white matter tracts to involve wider networks (complex partial) or the entire cortex (secondarily generalized). Per ILAE 2017 classification, focal onset is further described as aware, impaired awareness, or unknown awareness.

Generalized Epilepsy

Generalized epilepsies involve widespread cortical and subcortical networks from seizure onset. The thalamocortical circuitry plays a central role — particularly in absence epilepsy, where 3 Hz spike-wave discharges arise from rhythmic thalamic oscillations and cortical spread. Idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGE) are predominantly genetic (e.g., CACNA1A, GABRA1, SCN1A mutations), while symptomatic generalized epilepsies (e.g., LGS) involve diffuse cortical pathology.

Syndrome-Specific Pathophysiology

• Dravet syndrome: Loss-of-function mutations in SCN1A (Nav1.1 sodium channel) predominantly affect GABAergic interneurons, leading to disinhibition and seizure susceptibility. Heat/fever-induced channel dysfunction explains the fever sensitivity.
• West syndrome (infantile spasms): Multiple etiologies (structural, metabolic, genetic); hypsarrhythmia on EEG represents severe cortical disorganization in a developing brain; ACTH/vigabatrin are first-line treatments targeting the abnormal infantile epileptic network.
• Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: Diffuse cortical pathology disrupts the slow sleep oscillation system; the tonic seizures arise from activation of the brainstem via the corticoreticular pathway.
• Lafora disease: Autosomal recessive mutation in EPM2A or NHLRC1; accumulation of polyglucosan (Lafora) bodies in neurons leads to progressive neurodegeneration with myoclonus, generalized seizures, and cognitive decline in adolescence.

Status Epilepticus Pathophysiology

Prolonged seizure activity leads to excitotoxic neuronal injury through calcium influx, mitochondrial dysfunction, and free radical production. GABA-A receptor internalization during SE reduces benzodiazepine efficacy over time, explaining the importance of early, aggressive treatment. Convulsive SE carries mortality risk of 10–40%; non-convulsive SE (NCSE) may be underdiagnosed and requires EEG confirmation per Neurocritical Care Society consensus.

💊 Medication Impact / Treatment

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) — also called anti-seizure medications (ASMs) — are the cornerstone of epilepsy management. AED selection is guided by seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, patient age, comorbidities, and tolerability. Approximately 65–70% of patients achieve seizure freedom on AEDs; those failing two appropriate AED trials are classified as drug-resistant (intractable).

First-Line AEDs by Seizure/Syndrome Type

• Focal epilepsy: Lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine (not preferred in generalized)
• Generalized tonic-clonic: Valproate, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, topiramate
• Absence: Ethosuximide (first-line for pure absence), valproate, lamotrigine
• Juvenile myoclonic: Valproate (most effective), levetiracetam, lamotrigine; avoid carbamazepine/phenytoin (may worsen)
• Dravet syndrome: Clobazam, valproate, stiripentol; fenfluramine (Fintepla) and cannabidiol (Epidiolex) FDA-approved for Dravet
• Lennox-Gastaut: Valproate, clobazam, lamotrigine; cannabidiol (Epidiolex), rufinamide, felbamate, clobazam FDA-approved add-ons
• Infantile spasms: ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), vigabatrin (especially tuberous sclerosis), prednisolone
• Status epilepticus (acute): Benzodiazepines (lorazepam IV, diazepam rectal/IV, midazolam IM) → fosphenytoin/levetiracetam → anesthetic (propofol, midazolam drip, pentobarbital coma)

Long-Term AED Use — Z Code Coding

When a patient is on long-term AED therapy (not just acute use), code Z79.899 (long-term [current] use of other medication) as an additional code per FY2026 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines Section I.C.21.c.3. Note: Z79.1 covers anticoagulants; Z79.899 is the appropriate code for anticonvulsants (AEDs) in FY2026, as no specific Z79 subcategory exists for AEDs.

Surgical & Device Therapies — Code Impact

When the patient has an implanted vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), use Z45.42 for encounters involving adjustment or management of the VNS device. For responsive neurostimulation (RNS/NeuroPace), the encounter may be coded with Z45.49 (encounter for adjustment/management of other implanted nervous system device). For a history of resective epilepsy surgery (lobectomy, hemispherectomy, callosotomy), document Z87.39. Corpus callosotomy and hemispherectomy may also be associated with Z98.89 (other specified postprocedural states).

Preview ends here. The full guide continues with FY2026 ICD-10-CM code sets, CPT surgical coding, MS-DRG mapping, reimbursement guidance, CDI query templates, and an audit checklist — all available to CCO Members.

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📘 ICD-10-CM Guidelines (FY2026)

The following guidelines govern epilepsy coding under the FY2026 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (effective October 1, 2025). Epilepsy is addressed under Chapter 6: Diseases of the Nervous System (G00–G99), Section I.C.6.

Intractability Terminology

ICD-10-CM uses the term “intractable” in code descriptors. Per official guidelines, the terms “drug resistant,” “pharmacoresistant,” “treatment resistant,” “refractory (medically),” and “poorly controlled” are synonymous with “intractable” and support selection of the intractable subcategory codes. The documentation must come from the treating or consulting physician — coder inference alone is not sufficient without physician attestation.

Status Epilepticus Documentation

Status epilepticus (SE) is coded as an additional dimension of epilepsy codes (sixth character “1” for with SE) or separately via G41.x. The operational definition for coding purposes is continuous seizure activity ≥5 minutes or repetitive seizures without recovery between episodes. For inpatient encounters, SE may qualify as an MCC, impacting MS-DRG assignment and reimbursement. When SE is the principal diagnosis for admission (acute convulsive SE), use G41.0x; when it complicates an underlying epilepsy diagnosis, it is captured by the sixth character.

Epilepsy vs. Seizure (R56) Distinction

Per FY2026 guidelines: R56 codes are used when the seizure is an isolated event, provoked, or when epilepsy has not been established as the diagnosis. Febrile convulsions (R56.00–R56.01), post-traumatic seizures (R56.1), and unspecified convulsions (R56.9) are NOT epilepsy codes. Do not use G40 codes unless the provider has documented epilepsy or an epileptic disorder. When a patient with known epilepsy presents with a breakthrough seizure, code the underlying epilepsy — not R56.9.

FY2026 New/Revised Codes

FY2026 ICD-10-CM includes the following epilepsy-related additions and revisions, effective October 1, 2025 per CMS FY2026 ICD-10-CM tabular list:

• G40.84x — Absence epileptic syndrome (NEW for FY2026): This new subcategory provides a distinct code for absence epileptic syndrome, differentiating from childhood absence (G40.A) and juvenile absence. Subclassification includes G40.841 (intractable, with SE), G40.849 (not intractable, without SE), etc. — verify exact 7th character assignments in the FY2026 tabular.
• G40.Cxx — Lafora progressive myoclonus epilepsy: If expanded in FY2026, this code provides specificity for this rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative epilepsy syndrome.
• Continued specificity in G40.A (childhood absence), G40.B (juvenile myoclonic), with intractable/not intractable and with/without SE subclassifications.

Sequencing Rules

• In inpatient settings, the condition chiefly responsible for admission is the principal diagnosis. If status epilepticus precipitates admission, G41.x may be principal; if underlying epilepsy with a breakthrough seizure is the reason, G40.xx is principal.
• Code also any associated: underlying structural cause (e.g., G91.1 obstructive hydrocephalus, C71.x brain tumor, I63.x cerebral infarction), AED long-term use (Z79.899), and VNS/RNS device status (Z45.42).
• Febrile seizures in a child with known epilepsy: Code both the G40.xx (epilepsy) and R56.0x (febrile seizure) if both are documented and present.

🔢 ICD-10-CM Code Set (FY2026)

The following table presents the comprehensive FY2026 ICD-10-CM epilepsy code set. All codes are sourced from the CMS FY2026 ICD-10-CM tabular list. The sixth-character convention for G40 codes: .x1 = intractable + with status epilepticus; .x9 = not intractable + without status epilepticus; intractable-without-SE and not intractable-with-SE occupy the other two positions (e.g., .011/.019/.001/.009 for G40.0 — verify full tabular for each subgroup).

🔎 Indexing

The following index entries guide coders to the correct G40/G41 code via the FY2026 ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index:

• Epilepsy, epileptic, epilepsia → G40.909 (default) → then subterms for type/intractability
• Epilepsy → intractable G40.919; → not intractable G40.909
• Epilepsy → absence → G40.A09 (childhood), G40.409 (other generalized), G40.849 (absence epileptic syndrome FY2026)
• Epilepsy → Lennox-Gastaut syndrome → G40.812 (default not intractable, no SE)
• Epilepsy → Dravet syndrome → G40.832 (default, query for intractability)
• Epilepsy → juvenile myoclonic → G40.B09
• Epilepsy → infantile spasms → G40.822; → West syndrome → G40.822
• Epilepsy → Lafora → G40.C09
• Epilepsy → localization-related, focal, partial → idiopathic → G40.009; → symptomatic, simple partial → G40.109; → symptomatic, complex partial → G40.209
• Seizure(s) → febrile, simple → R56.00; → complex → R56.01
• Seizure(s) → post-traumatic → R56.1
• Seizure(s) → convulsive, NOS → R56.9
• Status epilepticus → grand mal → G41.0; → petit mal → G41.1; → complex partial → G41.2
• Syndrome → Lennox-Gastaut → G40.812
• Syndrome → Dravet → G40.832
• Drug-resistant epilepsy → see Epilepsy, intractable

🏥 CPT (2026)

The following CPT codes are used for epilepsy evaluation, monitoring, and surgical/device procedures. All codes are sourced from the AMA CPT 2026 code set.

🧾 HCPCS (2026)

HCPCS Level II codes for epilepsy cover injectable AED administration and neurostimulator device supply. These codes are used primarily in outpatient/infusion settings and for DME/supply billing per CMS HCPCS 2026.

📚 AHA Coding Clinic (Recent Guidance)

The following AHA Coding Clinic advisories are relevant to epilepsy coding. Coders should consult Coding Clinic as the authoritative source for ICD-10-CM guidance beyond the official tabular and guidelines.

• Intractability terminology equivalence: AHA Coding Clinic has affirmed that “drug-resistant,” “refractory,” and “pharmacoresistant” are acceptable equivalents to “intractable” for ICD-10-CM code selection. The physician’s documentation of any of these terms supports the intractable subcategory.
• Status epilepticus documentation: Coding Clinic guidance clarifies that status epilepticus must be documented by the provider — coders cannot infer SE solely from seizure duration in nursing notes. Query the attending or neurologist when the record documents prolonged seizure activity (≥5 min) without a physician diagnosis of SE.
• Febrile seizure vs. epilepsy: Coding Clinic guidance confirms R56.0x codes are for isolated febrile seizures in children. A child with a known epilepsy diagnosis who has a febrile seizure may have both an epilepsy code AND a febrile seizure code assigned if both conditions are documented.
• Post-traumatic epilepsy: Coding Clinic has addressed the distinction between a post-traumatic seizure (R56.1 — single provoked event) and post-traumatic epilepsy (G40.xx — recurrent unprovoked seizures after TBI). Coders should not assign G40 unless the provider documents post-traumatic epilepsy as a diagnosis.
• VNS implant coding: Guidance affirms that encounters solely for VNS device management (programming, interrogation) are coded with Z45.42 as the principal/first-listed diagnosis, with the underlying epilepsy as an additional code.
• Dravet syndrome and intractability: Coding Clinic has advised that Dravet syndrome is typically considered intractable given its inherent pharmacoresistance; however, the coder must still rely on physician documentation of intractability — not assumed based on syndrome alone.

💰 HCC / Risk Adjustment (v28)

Under the CMS-HCC Model v28 (applicable to Medicare Advantage risk adjustment for payment year 2026), epilepsy and convulsive disorders map to the following HCC categories. Accurate capture of intractability and epilepsy subtype is critical for appropriate risk-adjusted payment.

MS-DRG Implications

For inpatient encounters, epilepsy-related diagnoses map to MS-DRG 101/102/103 (Seizures) based on the presence of MCC, CC, or neither. Status epilepticus (G41.0) typically qualifies as an MCC, mapping to MS-DRG 101 (Seizures with MCC) with higher reimbursement. Accurate documentation of intractability, SE, and comorbidities (e.g., pneumonia, UTI, aspiration) is critical for appropriate MS-DRG assignment. Per CMS IPPS FY2026, the relative weights for seizure MS-DRGs are updated annually.

✍️ CDI Query Templates

All query templates below are designed per ACDIS/AHIMA compliant query guidelines — non-leading, multiple-choice format, with clinical indicators documented before presenting options.

🧑‍⚕️ Treatments (Clinical)

Comprehensive epilepsy management involves pharmacological therapy, surgical intervention, neurostimulation, dietary therapy, and emerging treatments. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and ILAE treatment guidelines provide the evidence base for these approaches.

Antiepileptic Drug Therapy (AEDs)

Approximately 65–70% of patients achieve sustained seizure freedom with optimal AED therapy. The choice of AED depends on seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, patient age, sex, comorbidities, drug interactions, and tolerability. Key therapeutic principles include: starting low and titrating slowly, monitoring for efficacy and side effects, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for phenytoin/carbamazepine/valproate/phenobarbital, and avoiding AEDs that worsen specific seizure types (e.g., carbamazepine worsens absence and myoclonic seizures).

Dietary Therapies

The ketogenic diet (high-fat, low-carbohydrate, adequate protein) is an evidence-based treatment for drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy, with particular efficacy in glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) deficiency, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, and infantile spasms. Variants include the modified Atkins diet and low glycemic index treatment. Dietary therapy is managed by a multidisciplinary team including neurology, dietetics, and nursing.

Epilepsy Surgery

Surgical resection is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant focal epilepsy. The presurgical evaluation includes: video-EEG monitoring, high-resolution MRI, PET scan, SPECT, neuropsychological testing, and Wada testing (functional cortical mapping, CPT 95961). Surgical options include:

• Temporal lobectomy: Most common; ~65–75% seizure freedom at 1 year for mesial temporal sclerosis per NEJM surgical trials
• Extratemporal resection: Frontal, parietal, occipital cortex; variable outcomes based on localization accuracy
• Hemispherectomy/hemispherotomy: For catastrophic hemispheric epilepsy (e.g., Rasmussen’s encephalitis, hemispheric cortical dysplasia)
• Corpus callosotomy: Palliative; reduces drop attacks in LGS; section of corpus callosum prevents bilateral spread
• Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT/MRI-guided laser ablation): Minimally invasive option for mesial temporal structures or hypothalamic hamartoma

Neurostimulation

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): FDA-approved for drug-resistant focal epilepsy ages ≥4 years; reduces seizure frequency by ≥50% in ~50% of patients; subcutaneous device implanted by surgeon; programmed by neurologist (CPT 95971/95972). HCPCS L8685–L8688 for device supply.
• Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS/NeuroPace): Closed-loop cortical stimulation; detects and responds to ictal activity; FDA-approved for focal epilepsy with 1–2 seizure foci; long-term seizure reduction with continued improvement over years.
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS — anterior thalamus): FDA-approved for drug-resistant focal epilepsy via the SANTE trial; bilateral thalamic DBS; programmed similarly to VNS (CPT 95970–95972 family).
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) / Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): Investigational; not standard of care for epilepsy as of 2026.

Acute Seizure Rescue Medications

For patients with breakthrough seizures or clusters, rescue medications are prescribed for home/community use:

• Diazepam rectal gel (Diastat) — J3360 for IV form in facility setting
• Diazepam nasal spray (Valtoco)
• Midazolam nasal spray (Nayzilam)
• Diazepam auto-injector (for caregivers)
• Clonazepam ODT (Seizalam) — oral dissolving tablet

Emerging and Precision Therapies

• Cannabidiol (Epidiolex): FDA-approved for Dravet syndrome, LGS, and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC); plant-derived CBD; oral solution; requires AED interaction monitoring (CYP3A4/UGT pathway)
• Fenfluramine (Fintepla): FDA-approved for Dravet syndrome; REMS required; echocardiography monitoring
• Cenobamate (Xcopri): Approved for focal onset seizures in adults; sodium channel + GABA modulation; significant drug interaction potential
• Gene therapy / precision neurology: Clinical trials for SCN1A (Dravet), KCNQ2 (neonatal epilepsy), TSC1/TSC2 (mTOR pathway inhibitors — everolimus/sirolimus)

🎓 Patient Education / Summary

The following summary content is intended to support patient-facing education and shared decision-making conversations. Coders and CDI specialists can use this to understand what patients are typically counseled on, which helps contextualize clinical documentation.

What Is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes repeated seizures. A seizure happens when a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain temporarily changes how the brain works. Seizures can look very different from person to person — some cause convulsions, others cause brief staring spells or unusual sensations. Epilepsy is diagnosed when someone has two or more unprovoked seizures, or has had one seizure with a high risk of recurrence. For reliable patient education resources, the Epilepsy Foundation provides comprehensive materials for patients and families.

Key Patient Education Points

• Take medications as prescribed. Missing AED doses is the most common trigger for breakthrough seizures. Do not stop AEDs without physician guidance — abrupt discontinuation can trigger dangerous seizures or status epilepticus.
• Seizure triggers. Common triggers include sleep deprivation, alcohol, illness/fever, stress, flickering lights (photosensitive epilepsy), and missed medications. Keep a seizure diary to identify personal triggers.
• Driving safety. Most states require a seizure-free period (typically 3–12 months) before driving is permitted. Laws vary by state — patients should discuss with their neurologist. See state motor vehicle agency guidelines.
• SUDEP awareness. Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy is a rare but serious risk, especially for people with uncontrolled generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Adherence to AED therapy, nighttime monitoring, and regular neurology follow-up reduce risk.
• Women and epilepsy. AEDs can affect oral contraceptives (enzyme-inducing AEDs reduce efficacy) and carry teratogenicity risks during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should discuss contraception, pregnancy planning, and folic acid supplementation with their neurologist and OB/GYN.
• Safety precautions. Shower instead of bathing (drowning risk during a seizure); avoid heights; use helmet for cycling; inform caregivers, teachers, and coworkers about seizure first aid.
• Seizure first aid. During a convulsive seizure: keep calm, clear the area, turn the person on their side, do NOT restrain or put anything in the mouth, time the seizure. Call 911 if the seizure lasts >5 minutes or the person does not wake up.
• Mental health. Depression and anxiety are 2–3x more common in people with epilepsy than the general population. Patients should be screened regularly and referred for mental health support as needed.

Resources

• Epilepsy Foundation — patient education, local chapters, seizure diary app, SUDEP awareness
• American Academy of Neurology — Patient Resources
• CDC Epilepsy Program — epidemiology, self-management tools
• International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) — global clinical guidelines and definitions

About this Guide

This Clinical Documentation Guide is published by CCO Academy and is intended for credentialed coding, CDI, and clinical documentation professionals. Content is updated for FY2026 ICD-10-CM (effective October 1, 2025). All code assignments should be verified against the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List, AHA Coding Clinic, and applicable payer-specific policies. This guide does not constitute legal, medical, or compliance advice.

Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next scheduled review: October 2026 (FY2027 update)