Epilepsy affects an estimated 3.4 million Americans, with about 150,000 new diagnoses each year. Incidence rises again after age 60, and adults 65 and older have the highest age-specific incidence. In this population, new-onset seizures are often linked to stroke, neurodegenerative disease, or other structural brain pathology. AAVBC's perspective is that "seizure" is not a sufficient final diagnosis. Primary care teams should distinguish a provoked seizure from a single unprovoked event and established epilepsy, while documenting epilepsy type, intractability, and status epilepticus when present. That distinction changes evaluation, treatment, coding, and follow-up.
AAVBC's Seizure Disorders Quick Reference Guide applies ILAE-aligned criteria to diagnostic thresholds, status epilepticus staging, ICD-10 and HCC/RAF V28 coding, MEAT documentation standards, antiseizure medication selection, drugs that lower seizure threshold, comorbidity management, and referral timing.
AAVBC’s Deep-Dive series offers a comprehensive, structured analysis of seizure disorders — moving far beyond quick-reference essentials. These guides provide an integrated review of epidemiology, diagnostic strategy, staging, coding logic, MEAT-aligned documentation examples, treatment guidelines, review vulnerabilities, and cost-utilization considerations. The Deep-Dive combines evidence-informed clinical guidance with practical operational tools to support a deeper understanding of disease complexity and provide multidisciplinary teams with strategies to thrive within value-based frameworks.
Epilepsy affects an estimated 3.4 million Americans, with about 150,000 new diagnoses each year. Incidence rises again after age 60, and adults 65 and older have the highest age-specific incidence. In this population, new-onset seizures are often linked to stroke, neurodegenerative disease, or other structural brain pathology. AAVBC's perspective is that "seizure" is not a sufficient final diagnosis. Primary care teams should distinguish a provoked seizure from a single unprovoked event and established epilepsy, while documenting epilepsy type, intractability, and status epilepticus when present. That distinction changes evaluation, treatment, coding, and follow-up.
AAVBC's Seizure Disorders Quick Reference Guide applies ILAE-aligned criteria to diagnostic thresholds, status epilepticus staging, ICD-10 and HCC/RAF V28 coding, MEAT documentation standards, antiseizure medication selection, drugs that lower seizure threshold, comorbidity management, and referral timing.
AAVBC’s Deep-Dive series offers a comprehensive, structured analysis of seizure disorders — moving far beyond quick-reference essentials. These guides provide an integrated review of epidemiology, diagnostic strategy, staging, coding logic, MEAT-aligned documentation examples, treatment guidelines, review vulnerabilities, and cost-utilization considerations. The Deep-Dive combines evidence-informed clinical guidance with practical operational tools to support a deeper understanding of disease complexity and provide multidisciplinary teams with strategies to thrive within value-based frameworks.
