Wiki Dialysis patient admitted due to weather

[jademound]

There is a patient who is going to be admitted from a nursing home who needs dialysis M-W-F. She has some medical needs, but is being admitted mainly because they want to be able to make sure she can get to dialysis due to impending weather (blizzard conditions - state issued no-travel advised). What would the appropriate admission diagnosis be?

 

[thomas7331]

Problems with availability of transportation can be reported with Z59.82 - Transportation insecurity. But this is likely a non-covered stay if the patient is being admitted for this reason rather than because they medically require services of the facility. As you describe it, the nursing home is providing temporary housing, not medically necessary nursing care. It's questionable if this can really be billed to a payer unless they've approved it due to the circumstances.

 

[jademound]

Problems with availability of transportation can be reported with Z59.82 - Transportation insecurity. But this is likely a non-covered stay if the patient is being admitted for this reason rather than because they medically require services of the facility. As you describe it, the nursing home is providing temporary housing, not medically necessary nursing care. It's questionable if this can really be billed to a payer unless they've approved it due to the circumstances.

Thank you for responding. The patient is actually a nursing home resident that is being admitted to the hospital where the dialysis is being done. Can Z59.82 be used as an admitting diagnosis? I am not sure if the patient even has insurance or if they are IHS (Indian Health Service) eligible only. If they do have insurance, I think it will be submitted as a non-covered stay. Either way, the patient will not be liable for any payment.