Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

What type of code should be assigned to a patient’s discharged acute respiratory failure?

1. History code

2. Current code

3. Acute code

4. Preventative code

The correct answer is: History code

In the context of coding for a patient's discharged acute respiratory failure, the most appropriate choice is to assign a current code. When a patient is discharged after experiencing a specific condition such as acute respiratory failure, the coding needs to reflect the patient's current health status at the time of discharge. Acute respiratory failure is a condition that can significantly impact the patient's care, and coding it properly ensures that it is recognized for further treatment, resource allocation, and reimbursement processes. This ensures accurate documentation of the patient's clinical condition that led to hospitalization. History codes are used to document past medical conditions that no longer affect the patient's current health status, whereas current codes are used to indicate conditions that are still relevant and require attention or consideration. Therefore, applying a current code accurately captures the acute respiratory failure condition at the time of discharge, providing a comprehensive view of the patient's health for future healthcare providers.