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POA and Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs) Flashcards

7 cards from real CCDS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 POA and Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs) flashcards as text

  1. A patient is admitted with a stage 2 pressure injury on the coccyx that was documented as present on admission. Two days later, nursing documents a new stage 2 pressure injury on the right heel. What is the correct POA indicator for the heel pressure injury?

    Answer: N – not present on admission

    The right heel pressure injury developed after admission, making it not present on admission (N), which may trigger HAC payment implications.

  2. Which of the following CMS-designated HACs requires a POA indicator of 'N' to affect MS-DRG payment?

    Answer: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)

    CAUTI is a CMS-designated HAC, and when the POA indicator is 'N', it triggers the HAC payment adjustment.

  3. A physician documents 'possible aspiration pneumonia' in the H&P but does not confirm or deny it was present on admission. What POA indicator should be assigned?

    Answer: U

    When documentation is insufficient to determine whether a condition was present on admission, the POA indicator 'U' (unknown) is assigned.

  4. Under the HAC Reduction Program, hospitals in the worst-performing quartile for HAC rates receive what penalty?

    Answer: 1% reduction in total Medicare payments

    The ACA established a 1% reduction in total Medicare payments for hospitals in the worst-performing quartile under the HAC Reduction Program.

  5. A patient presents to the ED with left knee pain and is admitted. During the admission workup, an MRI reveals an occult fracture of the left femoral neck that was not previously diagnosed. What POA indicator applies?

    Answer: Y – condition existed before admission

    A condition that existed prior to admission, even if undiagnosed, is still considered present on admission and receives a POA indicator of 'Y'.

  6. Which POA indicator is used when the clinical documentation is insufficient to determine whether a condition was present on admission AND the physician cannot clinically determine if it was present?

    Answer: W

    POA indicator 'W' is used when the documentation is insufficient AND it is clinically impossible to determine if the condition was present on admission.

  7. A CDIS queries the physician about a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) that developed on hospital day 5. The physician responds that it is 'likely hospital-acquired.' Which POA indicator is appropriate?

    Answer: N

    When a physician confirms the condition is hospital-acquired (arose after admission), POA indicator 'N' is appropriate, and it qualifies as a HAC.