For an acute care inpatient discharge, which UHDDS-aligned definiti…

Question

For an acute care inpatient discharge, which UHDDS-aligned definition should the coder use when selecting the principal diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the admission to the hospital. — UHDDS principal diagnosis is not “whatever paid best” or “whatever was first on the ED sheet.” It is the condition after study that mainly caused the admission. Think reason-for-stay after the workup, not the loudest billing code.

Answer

The first diagnosis listed on the emergency department face sheet, regardless of later findings.

Answer

Any condition that appears in the discharge summary problem list.

Answer

The diagnosis that yields the highest-weighted MS-DRG among documented options.

For an acute care inpatient discharge, which UHDDS-aligned definition should the coder use when selecting the principal diagnosis?

Short Explanation

Full Explanation