AIDS Related Condition

morris-jeff@CooperHealth.edumorris-jeff@CooperHealth.edu
in Clinical & Coding
seeking those with greater experience with the HIV/AIDS population & coding those records.... we had a patient with aseptic meningitis and AIDS and we have a contract with a pre bill audit service to review records. The coder had queried the MD to ask if the aseptic meningitis was related to the AIDS. They were suggesting sequencing the meningitis as PDX since it's not a CDC-defined related condition. I was just wondering if you guys query the MD when these patients come in with infections and conditions not on the CDC list to ask the MD the link or only the CDC-defined conditions? Just trying to find out what's best practice for us.

Thanks,
Jeff

Comments

  • lfaustino31@gmail.comlfaustino31@gmail.com

    Hi Jeff, We have a large HIV/AIDS population and query for either the most recent CD4 count, any history of CD4 count under 200 or any history of AIDS defining illness. If any of the above applies, we apply code B20 to reflect AIDS. Once diagnosed with AIDS, we want to continue to reflect the highest level of severity of illness in the current admission. If unclear regarding the CDC-defined condition, I would certainly query for the link.

    Hope that helps,

    Lara

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