To be coded, the diagnosis should be addressed in some way. There are more than one way to address a diagnosis.
HIV, being followed by Infectious Disease Specialist.
Hyperlipidemia, uncontrolled. Patient refuses medication.
COPD, stop smoking strongly advised.
Atrial Fibrillation, patient is on Coumadin. Continue to monitor PT/INR monthly.
Hypertension, stable. On atenolol.
Hypothyroidism, severe noncompliance with medical treatment. Patient, again, refuses any medication.
etc etc etc
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What they don't want to see is a laundry list of DXs in a note showing absolutely no medical necessity, in regards to the patient visit, in the first place.
For example:
Patient comes in today for follow up. Feels great.
HEENT: Normal
Heart: RRR
Lungs: Clear to auscultation
Abd: Soft, nontender, no organomegaly
Ext: + pulses, no edema
HIV
Hyperlipidemia
COPD
Atrial Fibrillation
Hypertension
Hypothyroidism
PLAN: See patient back in 4 weeks.
:Four weeks later:
Patient comes in today for follow up. Feels great.
HEENT: Normal
Heart: RRR
Lungs: Clear to auscultation
Abd: Soft, nontender, no organomegaly
Ext: + pulses, no edema
HIV
Hyperlipidemia
COPD
Atrial Fibrillation
Hypertension
Hypothyroidism
PLAN: See patient back in 4 weeks.
:Four weeks later:
Patient comes in today for follow up. Feels great.
HEENT: Normal
Heart: RRR
Lungs: Clear to auscultation
Abd: Soft, nontender, no organomegaly
Ext: + pulses, no edema
HIV
Hyperlipidemia
COPD
Atrial Fibrillation
Hypertension
Hypothyroidism
PLAN: See patient back in 4 weeks.
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You get the point. May as well be carbon copies! It happens all the time. If the doctor is not managing the patient's care in some way, whether it be reviewing specialist notes, tweaking meds, counseling patient on risk modification, SOMETHING, the doctor should not expect any sort of compensation for the visit. Documentation is EVERYTHING. If it's not documented, it wasn't done. Insurance carriers want to know that something was done and that they are not paying the docs for nothing.
diagnosis codes, diagnosis coding