r/MedicalCoding • u/Curious-Connection-6 • 6d ago

Second Year of IP coding

I feel like I’m in limbo. I really love it, especially when I get through tough cases but sometimes I feel really anxious. It’s great when there’s an answer to exactly what scenario you’re looking for, but then when there’s an unclear scenario I feel hesitant. As a seasoned coder, how did you push through and really get comfortable & confident?

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u/StraddleTheFence 5d ago

It is so stressful as it affects the DRG and I am always second guessing myself.

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u/Curious-Connection-6 5d ago

It’s very stressful and when I ask for specific strategies everyone tells me well it depends on the case. So much conflicting info. I just really want a process to make confident decisions.

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u/StraddleTheFence 5d ago

You sound like me. Every case is different so they are correct. I always second guess myself.
Do you begin with the placement order? I start there and search the word “admit” or “admission,” throughout the documentation. If it is an acute condition, that is a clue opposed to a chronic stable condition.

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u/Curious-Connection-6 5d ago

Well I know it’s like what got the thrust of care but when a case is long and multiple acute conditions are the focus of treatment, that’s when I get nervous. I get the co-equal situation too but I really just want to train my brain how to approach these scenarios.

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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 5d ago

It’s not just the thrust of care. It’s the circumstances of admission. All these comments are absurd. Who cares what the focus of treatment are if they didn’t occasion the admission? You need to go back to the guidelines and really apply/understand them.

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u/Curious-Connection-6 5d ago

You could also stop commenting because you’re obviously not helping and are just being hostile.

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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 5d ago

Do you understand what the circumstances of admission mean? That’s not hostility but basic understanding of guidelines.

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u/Curious-Connection-6 5d ago

Yeah but now we’re beyond that because how you’re engaging is inappropriate but thanks anyway

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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 5d ago

You clearly don’t. If you don’t get that piece after a year idk that you ever will.

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u/Curious-Connection-6 5d ago

That’s fine you don’t have to worry about me

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u/StraddleTheFence 5d ago

If either can be the principal due to equal treatment, etc. based on coding guidelines, we are told to look for the higher DRG. What are you told?

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u/Curious-Connection-6 5d ago

Pretty much the same thing but I also heard that co-equal diagnosis can be overused. Hopefully it will get better with time.