NIHSS score 9

This code indicates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 9, which signifies a moderate neurological deficit in a patient who has experienced a stroke. The NIHSS is a systematic assessment tool used to quantify the severity of a stroke by evaluating various neurological functions. A score of 9 suggests noticeable impairment affecting multiple domains such as consciousness, motor function, sensation, and language.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states an NIHSS score of 9 following an acute cerebrovascular event. This score is typically assessed by neurologists, emergency physicians, or trained stroke nurses during the initial evaluation and throughout the patient's hospital stay. Ensure the medical record clearly documents the NIHSS assessment and the resulting score.

• Always sequence the stroke diagnosis (e.g., I63.-) before this code.
• Do not use this code if the NIHSS score is not explicitly documented as 9; use the appropriate code for the documented score or R29.700 for an unspecified score.
• This code is for reporting the NIHSS score itself, not the stroke diagnosis.