Immunosuppression coding thoughts
Would like input on coding immunosuppression therapy that is started on transplant patients postoperative. We have transplants that get the usual immunosuppression medications to prevent rejection and the doctors often document "plan for immunosuppression with simulect induction, start Prograf and continue cellcept". Do you code only the Z codes to represent these medications that they will be given long-term or do you code the actual diagnosis of immunocompromised (immunosuppressed, immunodeficiency) ??? Once these medications are started, are they actually immunosuppressed from day 1? Day 10? OR do you only code the diagnosis of immunocompromised when a pt has abnormal lab values or opportunistic infections that support this diagnosis? Would love to see how other CDI programs handle this situation. Thanks in advance!