Combined ICD10 codes: Difference between revisions

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*In general, when you have a manifestation and a cause, the two codes should be combined.  
*In general, when you have a manifestation and a cause, the two codes should be combined.  


=== Combined Codes when coding the [[Primary Admit Diagnosis]] ===
=== Primary Admit Diagnosis in Combined Codes  ===
Sometimes an entity best represented as a combined code will be the [[Primary Admit Diagnosis]]. The way we use these means we don't want a patient to have two. Normal combined coding would lead to two diagnoses with the highest priority so we have to make a choice.
See [[Primary Admit Diagnosis]]
 
The solution is to do '''BOTH''' of the following:
*For the #1, main reason for admission diagnosis, choose as #1 the diagnosis associated with the highest mortality, i.e. the one that’s “worst”'''.  For example, for Liver failure due to Hep B, you'd usually choose the Liver failure as #1.
*ALSO separately code them together, i.e. combined.  Yes, there's then some duplication in the diagnosis code list (in the example you'd code Liver failure as the #1 diagnosis, and also code the Liver failure combined with Hep B), but that's OK.
 
This solution also works for the rare entities which can only be coded with a combination of two codes.  The example above of retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a good one if it's the #1 reason for admission.  Here you'd code the '''[[Hemorrhage, NOS]]''' as #1, but ALSO code '''[[Hemorrhage, NOS]]''' combined with '''[[Retroperitoneal area, diagnostic imaging, abnormal]]'''


==== different way to deal with Primary Dx in ICD10 codes ====
==== different way to deal with Primary Dx in ICD10 codes ====