Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

Question: In the Nov. 2009 issue of Home Health ICD-9 Alert, there was a question regarding a kidney transplant patient. The patient was readmitted to the hospital with a retroperitoneal hematoma and then returned home. Why would you still list an aftercare code when there was a complication of a retroperitoneal hematoma?

Answer: Our answer assumed the patient's retroperitoneal hematoma was treated during his stay at the hospital. If instead the hematoma was still present upon his return home, and if it was considered a complication of the patient's previous kidney transplant, you would code for it with 996.81 (Complication of transplanted organ; kidney) rather than V58.44 (Aftercare following organ transplant).

But before reporting these codes, check with the physician to be certain that the retroperitoneal hematoma is indeed considered a complication of the transplant.

To see the original question, reference page 87 of the November 2009, Vol. 6, No. 11 issue of Home Health ICD-9 Alert.