Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

Which of the following conditions can be reported as current?

1. Hypertension and diabetes

2. Hepatitis, hypertension, and diabetes

3. Hypertension, diabetes, and breast cancer

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Hepatitis, hypertension, and diabetes

The condition that can be reported as current involves understanding how chronic conditions and active diseases are defined within coding guidelines. In this scenario, hepatitis is considered an active and currently diagnosed condition that can significantly impact a patient’s health status, necessitating ongoing management or treatment. Hypertension and diabetes are both chronic conditions that also warrant inclusion for coding, as they typically require continuous monitoring and management, reflecting a patient's ongoing health issues. The combination of hepatitis, hypertension, and diabetes in this choice highlights the presence of both currently active and chronic conditions that are pivotal for accurate risk adjustment coding. While hypertension and diabetes alone represent significant chronic conditions, the inclusion of hepatitis in this group provides a more comprehensive view of the patient’s current health status. The other options either lack an active condition or expand into a diagnosis (like breast cancer) that may not be considered current therapy depending on the clinical situation. Thus, option B accurately reflects a combination of conditions that are either currently active or warrant ongoing management, aligning with the principles of accurate risk adjustment coding.