D9986Missed Appointment

What This Code Covers

D9986 is a tracking code used to record when a patient fails to show up for a scheduled appointment without canceling in advance. This code is not submitted to insurance for reimbursement. It is used internally by the dental office to document no-shows in the patient's record and, if the office charges a missed appointment fee, to generate a charge on the patient's account. Many offices use this code as part of their practice management workflow to monitor appointment compliance and identify patients who frequently miss visits.

Billing Guide

Bill this code when:

• A patient does not show up for a scheduled appointment and did not cancel in advance
• Your office policy includes a missed appointment fee and the patient has been informed of the policy
• You need to document the no-show in the patient's record for tracking purposes
• The missed appointment fee is being charged directly to the patient account, not to insurance

Do not bill this code when:

• The patient canceled the appointment in advance, even with short notice. Use D9987 (cancelled appointment) instead
• You are submitting a claim to insurance. D9986 is not a reimbursable code for any payer
• The patient rescheduled the appointment before the original time and date
• Your office does not have a missed appointment policy or the patient was not informed of the fee

Insurance and Denial Prevention

Key Payer Rules:

• D9986 is never submitted to insurance. No dental plan reimburses for missed appointments
• The missed appointment fee is a patient responsibility charge, billed directly to the patient
• Your office must have a written missed appointment policy that patients sign before you can charge this fee
• Some states have regulations about missed appointment fees in healthcare settings. Check your state dental board rules to make sure your policy complies

Common Denials and How to Respond:

• Patient disputes the charge → Show the signed financial agreement that includes the missed appointment policy. Provide records of appointment reminders that were sent. If the patient has a valid reason (medical emergency, family crisis), consider waiving the fee as a goodwill gesture.
• No signed agreement on file → If the patient never signed a financial agreement that includes the missed appointment fee, you cannot enforce the charge. Update your intake process to include the policy in your standard financial agreement.
• Patient says they canceled → Check your phone records, text logs, or email for any cancellation communication. If the patient did cancel and it was not recorded, waive the fee and update your cancellation tracking process.