Wheelchair dependence

This code indicates a patient's reliance on a wheelchair for mobility. It signifies that the individual requires a wheelchair for ambulation due to a physical limitation or disability, rather than using it as a temporary aid or for convenience.

This code is appropriate for documenting a patient's primary mode of mobility when it is a wheelchair. It should be used when the patient is permanently or chronically dependent on a wheelchair for daily activities and ambulation.

• This code is for dependence, not just occasional use.
• Always code the underlying condition necessitating wheelchair use first.
• Consider if a more specific "activity limitation" code from the V-codes might also be appropriate.