CIC Present on Admission (POA) Indicators and Reporting

Question 1

What does the POA indicator 'Y' represent in inpatient coding?

Accepted Answer

The condition was present at the time of inpatient admission

Answer

POA indicator 'Y' means the condition was present at the time of the order for inpatient admission.

Question 2

Which federal legislation mandated hospitals to report Present on Admission (POA) indicators for Medicare inpatient claims?

Accepted Answer

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

Answer

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 directed CMS to identify hospital-acquired conditions and required POA indicator reporting to distinguish them from conditions present at admission.

Question 3

What POA indicator is assigned when clinical documentation is insufficient to determine if a condition was present at the time of inpatient admission?

Accepted Answer

U

Answer

POA indicator 'U' is assigned when documentation is insufficient to determine whether the condition was present on admission.

Question 4

A patient develops a urinary tract infection on post-operative day 3, with no evidence of infection at admission. Which POA indicator applies?

Accepted Answer

N

Answer

POA indicator 'N' is assigned when a condition was NOT present at the time of inpatient admission, such as an infection that developed during the hospital stay.

Question 5

Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs) that are NOT present on admission may result in which financial consequence under Medicare?

Accepted Answer

Loss of additional payment — CMS pays as if the secondary diagnosis were not present

Answer

When a designated HAC is not present on admission, CMS does not pay the higher MS-DRG rate associated with that complication or comorbidity, reducing hospital reimbursement.

CIC - Certified Inpatient Coder Practice Test

CIC - Certified Inpatient Coder Practice Test

CIC Present on Admission (POA) Indicators and Reporting