NIHSS score 1

This code indicates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 1, reflecting a very mild neurological deficit in a patient who has experienced a stroke or is being evaluated for one. The NIHSS is a systematic assessment tool used to quantify the severity of neurological impairment.

Use this code when the medical record explicitly documents an NIHSS score of 1. This typically occurs during the initial assessment of a suspected or confirmed acute ischemic stroke, or during follow-up evaluations to track neurological status. Documentation should clearly state the NIHSS score.

• Always ensure the specific NIHSS score (e.g., "1") is documented, not just "NIHSS performed."
• This code is for the score itself and should be sequenced after the primary diagnosis for the stroke (e.g., I63.x).
• Do not confuse with codes for other NIHSS score ranges; each score has a unique code.