CMS is seeking public comment on how SDoH would improve severity of illness under the MS-DRGs.
In the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule FY23, there was solicitation for public comment on social determinants of health (SDOH). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wants opinions on how the SDOH would improve the recognition of severity of illness, complexity of illness, and/or utilization of resources under the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRGs).
The definition of SDOH is conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, quality of life outcomes, and risks. These conditions may be predictors for risk of developing medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
The ICD-10-CM codes that capture SDOH fall in the range of Z55 – Z65 (Persons with Potential Health Hazards Related to Socioeconomic and Psychosocial Circumstances). These codes are not complications/comorbid conditions (CCs), major complications/comorbid conditions (MCCs), or hierarchical condition categories (HCCs).
The SDOH data is important to report and include in the claims database. Here are several considerations as you think about reporting this data. These include the following:
Here are action steps as you investigate SDOH data:
Social programs need this data to provide the right resources in the right geographic areas. Go ahead and report SDOH codes. Provide feedback to CMS regarding how the SDOH data can assist in identifying patients with additional needs. Give suggestions regarding how CMS may provide incentives for SDOH cases. We may find that the SDOH codes will provide additional incentives in the future.
NOTE: The Official Coding and Reporting Guidelines for ICD-10-CM FY 23 are effective with discharges/visits on October 1, 2022.
Programming Note: Listen to Laurie Johnson’s live Coding Report every Tuesday on Talk Ten Tuesdays with Chuck Buck and Erica Remer, MD.
Resources:
Official Coding and Reporting Guidelines ICD-10-CM FY23
FY23 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
Well, this is the last RACmonitor news edition of the year, so it’s time for my annual Hirsch’s Heroes. As a reminder, last year my
It was a story that immediately captured the nation’s collective attention and wouldn’t let go for the better part of a week: a masked shooter
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