NIHSS score 38

This code indicates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 38, signifying a severe neurological deficit typically observed in acute stroke patients. The NIHSS is a systematic assessment tool used to quantify the severity of stroke based on various neurological functions. A score of 38 represents profound impairment across multiple domains.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states an NIHSS score of 38 for a patient with an acute cerebrovascular event. This score is often recorded by neurologists or emergency physicians during the initial evaluation of stroke. Supporting documentation includes physician notes, neurological assessments, and stroke scale worksheets.

• Always sequence the primary stroke diagnosis (e.g., I63.-) before this code.
• Ensure the documented NIHSS score precisely matches "38" to use this specific code.
• Do not use this code if the NIHSS score is not explicitly documented or if a different score is noted.