Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

Question: Our agency is providing wound care for a patient who has chronic renal failure and is receiving dialysis. The permacath used for dialysis was beginning to clog, so the physician attempted to place a new AV shunt in two different locations but both failed. We are caring for both failed sites. How should we code for this patient? 


New Hampshire Subscriber

Answer: If the dialysis catheters have failed, report 996.1 (Mechanical complication of other vascular device, implant, and graft).

Warning: Be sure you have detailed documentation indicating that the dialysis catheters have been abandoned. Dialysis and care of dialysis catheters are not covered under the home health benefit unless the dialysis catheter has been abandoned.