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Next Reply: Re:EOL V-coding
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Post EOL V-coding
Author: dcotes
Date: Nov 21, 2008 3:19 pm
V66.7 is used for a Palliative Care encounter. Further understand that this V code represents everything at EOL, including "comfort care" and imminent death. Believe another code for "comfort care" and imminent death is needed. Does anyone else view this as a problem in their institution either for mortality stats or collecting PC data? Could CAPC play a role at the national level in creating 2 separate codes?
Replies: order by [Date] [Author] [Subject]
Re:EOL V-coding (by eyellig on 11/22/2008)
Where do you use the V66.7 code?
Re:EOL V-coding (by kkerr on 11/25/2008)
Hello,
Can you say more about why you think two codes are needed - what you fear will happen if such a step is not taken? What is your understanding of how the v code incidence data will be used?
Thanks for clarifying your concerns,

Kathleen Kerr
Senior Analyst
University of California San Francisco
Palliative Care Leadership Center
+ Re:EOL V-coding (by dcotes on 12/01/2008)
Separate codes would help differentiate Palliative Care from comfort care/Hospice care.
Currently, all of these EOL services are grouped together in the V66.7 code. If Palliative Care works earlier in the chronic disease trajectory, doesn't using this one code confuse the issue in reporting hospital data? My understanding is when Hospice is involved and death occurs,the death no longer counts towards hospital mortality. When V66.7 code is used with Palliative Care, it represents an "expected death." Is this thinking correct?
Thanks.
+ Re:EOL V-coding (by JulieP on 12/04/2008)
From strictly a coding/billing background the terms Palliative Care and Hospice seem synonomous to me. Palliative Care is usually provided to patients who are terminal and are expected to die due to their disease/illness. Hospice benefits or hospice care is usually invoked by patients who have a life expectency of 6 months or less.I do not know how this affects the hospital. I think your question requires the expertise of a provider as I'm sure PC & Hospice are not synonomous from a care standpoint.

Julie Pipke, CPC
Reibursement Manager
Medical College of WI

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