Underdosing of methadone, initial encounter

This code signifies that a patient has experienced adverse effects or a lack of therapeutic effect due to receiving less than the prescribed or intended dose of methadone. This underdosing can lead to the recurrence of symptoms, withdrawal, or inadequate management of the condition for which methadone was prescribed.

Apply this code when a patient presents with symptoms of methadone withdrawal, uncontrolled pain, or other signs of insufficient methadone levels, and the cause is determined to be an underdosing event. This includes situations where a patient self-reduced their dose, was inadvertently given a lower dose, or experienced a disruption in their medication supply.

• Always assign an additional code for the specific manifestation of the underdosing (e.g., withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain).
• Ensure documentation clearly supports that the patient received less than the intended dose, rather than a therapeutic failure at the correct dose.
• The "A" in the 7th character indicates an initial encounter for the underdosing event.