-
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ & read the forum rules. To view all forums, post or create a new thread, you must be an AAPC Member. If you are a member and have already registered for member area and forum access, you can log in by clicking here. If you've forgotten your username or password use our password reminder tool. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below..
Wiki same elements used for multiple conditions
- Thread starter elbeRN
- Start date
Pathos
True Blue
Are you still looking for an answer to your question?
I would not count any of the HPI elements twice, as this looks like "double dipping".
Here's a good AAPC article by AAPC's G.J. Verhovshek.
"McCann’s intended meaning is that you cannot use a single documented item twice within the same component of the E/M service. For instance, if the physician documents “pain since last Tuesday,” you cannot count that statement in the history of present illness (HPI) as timing and duration. It’s one or the other, but not both."
AHIMA forum thread
Another AAPC forum thread
While the guidelines do not spell out that you cannot use an HPI element twice, it appears to me that this is implied. For example, a patient comes in with rash all over their body. You could probably get 4 elements easy from that if you could count Location 4 times. I think it would be more useful if the documentation explained three other HPI elements instead of multiple Location.
Hope this is helpful!
I would not count any of the HPI elements twice, as this looks like "double dipping".
Here's a good AAPC article by AAPC's G.J. Verhovshek.
"McCann’s intended meaning is that you cannot use a single documented item twice within the same component of the E/M service. For instance, if the physician documents “pain since last Tuesday,” you cannot count that statement in the history of present illness (HPI) as timing and duration. It’s one or the other, but not both."
AHIMA forum thread
Another AAPC forum thread
While the guidelines do not spell out that you cannot use an HPI element twice, it appears to me that this is implied. For example, a patient comes in with rash all over their body. You could probably get 4 elements easy from that if you could count Location 4 times. I think it would be more useful if the documentation explained three other HPI elements instead of multiple Location.
Hope this is helpful!