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Wiki dx for kidney donor
- Thread starter mluongo
- Start date
Pam Warren
True Blue
You have to use the V code...the patient has no 'condition' or disease. They're simply status kidney donor (V59.4). That your software won't "accept it" is unfortunate, but you shouldn't issue a diagnosis for a condition the patient doesn't have.
In fact, 1Q 1987 of the Coding Clinic lists V59.4 as an acceptable principal diagnosis in the inpatient setting.
Coding Clinic Nov/Dec 1984 indicates that this is the appropriate code to use for admission to the hospital for the sole purpose of donating an organ.
Even though as a HHA, you are performing aftercare (V26.22) for acquired absence of kidney (V45.73), you're still in the same boat with your software.
It wouldn't be dorrect (or ethical) to code otherwise. Can you contact your software vendor and learn of any workarounds?
In fact, 1Q 1987 of the Coding Clinic lists V59.4 as an acceptable principal diagnosis in the inpatient setting.
Coding Clinic Nov/Dec 1984 indicates that this is the appropriate code to use for admission to the hospital for the sole purpose of donating an organ.
Even though as a HHA, you are performing aftercare (V26.22) for acquired absence of kidney (V45.73), you're still in the same boat with your software.
It wouldn't be dorrect (or ethical) to code otherwise. Can you contact your software vendor and learn of any workarounds?