When a provider's documentation refers to use, abuse, and dependence of the same substance (e.

According to ICD-10-CM coding guidelines for substance use, abuse, and dependence, when multiple levels (use, abuse, and dependence) of the same substance are documented, only the highest level of severity is coded. The hierarchy is as follows: dependence > abuse > use.

D. If both use and dependence are documented, assign only the code for dependence is correct, as dependence represents the highest severity level and supersedes both use and abuse.

A. is incorrect because if both use and abuse are documented without dependence, only abuse would be coded as it is of a higher severity than use.

B. is incorrect because all three codes (use, abuse, dependence) should not be reported together; only the highest level should be coded.

C. is incorrect because if both abuse and dependence are documented, only dependence (the higher severity level) should be coded, not abuse.

Therefore, the correct answer is D. If both use and dependence are documented, assign only the code for dependence.