DRGs for procedures unrelated to the principal diagnosis shouldn't occur frequently. If they do, coding managers should take a closer look at coding compliance efforts to ensure accuracy and avoid costly audits.
Although coders and billers don't play a role in determining whether condition code 44 is appropriate, they most certainly ensure correct billing of the code.
When Lori Belanger, RN, BSN, RHIT, inpatient coder and CDI specialist at Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent, Maine, began to practice coding charts using ICD-10-CM/PCS, she was a bit surprised by how much her productivity decreased.
