UHDDS Inpatient Coding Guidelines Exam
Study Guide.
Codes for symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions - answer✔✔Codes for symptoms, signs,
and ill-defined conditions from Chapter 18 are not to be used as principal diagnosis when a
related definitive diagnosis has been established.
Two or more interrelated conditions, each potentially meeting the definition for principal
diagnosis - answer✔✔When there are two or more interrelated conditions (such as diseases in
the same ICD-10-CM chapter or manifestations characteristically associated with a certain
disease)potentially meeting the definition of principal diagnosis, either condition may be
sequenced first, unless the circumstances of the admission, the therapy provided, the Tabular
List, or the Alphabetic Index indicate otherwise.
Two or more diagnoses that equally meet the definition for
principal diagnosis - answer✔✔In the unusual instance when two or more diagnoses equally
meet the criteria for
principal diagnosis as determined by the circumstances of admission, diagnostic
workup and/or therapy provided, and the Alphabetic Index, Tabular List, or another
coding guidelines does not provide sequencing direction, any one of the diagnoses
may be sequenced first.
Two or more comparative or contrasting conditions - answer✔✔In those rare instances when two
or more contrasting or comparative diagnoses are documented as "either/or" (or similar
terminology), they are coded as if the diagnoses
were confirmed and the diagnoses are sequenced according to the circumstances of the
admission. If no further determination can be made as to which diagnosis should be principal,
either diagnosis may be sequenced first.
Original treatment plan not carried out - answer✔✔Sequence as the principal diagnosis the
condition, which after study occasioned the admission to the hospital, even though treatment
may not have been carried out due to