Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert
Proximate Cause Or Underlying Diagnosis?
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Question: Medicare asks us to code the proximate diagnosis first in situations such as when we are providing care for a patient with Parkinson's Disease. That way we don't misrepresent the focus of care by coding the underlying condition first and thus getting points for the Parkinson's. But generally the coding guidance tells us to code the condition followed by the symptoms (when the symptom is not integral to the condition). Medicare advises us to follow the Official Coding Guidelines and now we get points for Parkinson's whether it's primary or secondary, if the other criteria are met (dressing disability). So, how are you coding these cases now? Join the Home Health Coding & OASIS discussion at www.elihealthcare.com/groups.htm to share your thoughts.
Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert
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