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Read in the Part 1 edition of the 4-part series, we discussed the changes in demographic rates and the first 7 groupings of the V28 hierarchies. In this Part 2 edition of the 4-part series, we will examine the changes in the disease + disease interaction modifiers and cover the next 7 groupings.
Taking care of a patient with multiple conditions is more expensive and difficult than taking care of patients with fewer conditions. Medicare recognizes this and includes an additional RAF value addition for patients that have certain combinations of HCCs. For example: if a patient is coded with diabetes and CHF, an additional modifier is added to the RAF score. Although HCCs were rearranged into new categories, all of the interaction categories from V24 are still present in V28, with one exception: immune disorders + cancer. The interaction of immune disorders and cancer has been eliminated, which traditionally added an additional RAF of 0.6-0.8 to each patient. Looking at the values of the interaction categories, the value of most groups decreased by 12% – 70%. Notably, two particular groupings had substantial increases and deviated from the other trends. These are the interaction of CHF and diabetes and the interaction between CHF and arrhythmias in the ‘partially dual-eligible aged’ population, with an increase of 31% and 25%, respectively.
This is one of the most drastically altered groupings. For the most part, HCC 47 (Disorders of Immunity) has been removed as an HCC. The other two HCCs in the V24 version of this grouping have had their ICD-10s have been spread across several different new categories. Overall this grouping has 7 different HCCs in it: 2 HCCs that address sickle cell disease, 3 HCCs addressing bleeding issues such as anemia, hemophilia, and immune thrombocytopenia, and lastly 2 HCCs for severe immunological disorders. The details of these changes are as follows
V24 HCC 46 (Severe Hematological Disorders) changes:
–The codes for refractory anemia and refractory cytopenia have been moved to V28 HCC 19 (Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers) in the neoplasm grouping
–The codes for sickle cell disease and thalassemias have been split between V28 HCC 107 (Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb-SS) and Thalassemia Beta Zero) and V28 108 (Sickle Cell Disorders, Except Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb-SS) and Thalassemia Beta Zero; Beta Thalassemia Major)
Codes for sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia are placed in HCC 107 with an average RAF decrease of 1.584
All other sickle cell disorders and Thalassemia codes have been moved to HCC 108 with an average RAF decrease of 2.345
–The codes for hemolytic anemia and hemolytic uremic syndromes have been moved to HCC V28 109 (Acquired Hemolytic, Aplastic, and Sideroblastic Anemias) with an average RAF decrease of 1.294
–The codes for drug-induced hemolytic and aplastic anemias have been removed from the model
–A large number of codes have been removed from the model, including some of the more commonly coded conditions such as neutropenia, secondary immunodeficiency, and drug-induced pancytopenia
–Some of the more severe genetic immunological disorders such as SCID or common variable immunodeficiency have been moved to V28 HCC 114 (Common Variable and Combined Immunodeficiencies) with an average RAF increase of 1.756
–Other less severe immunodeficiencies such as cyclic neutropenia or selective immunoglobulin deficiencies have been moved to V28 HCC 115 (Specified Immunodeficiencies and White Blood Cell Disorders) with an average RAF decrease of 0.138
–The codes for graft-versus-host disease have been moved to V28 HCC 454 (Stem Cell, Including Bone Marrow, Transplant Status/Complications) with a RAF increase of 0.212
–Many codes were removed from the model, most notably secondary hypercoagulable state, sickle cell trait, unspecified and drug-induced thrombocytopenia, and senile purpura
–The codes for severe bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand’s, primary thrombocytopenia, and other hereditary hemophilias have been moved to V28 HCC 112 (Immune Thrombocytopenia and Specified Coagulation Defects and Hemorrhagic Conditions) with an average RAF increase of 0.321
V24 HCC 51 (Dementia With Complications) has been split between V28 HCC 125 (Dementia, Severe), 126 (Dementia, Moderate), or 127 (Dementia, Mild or Unspecified) based on if the ICD-10 code references severe, moderate, or mild dementia
HCC 52 (Dementia Without Complication) has removed a few rare causes of dementia or dementia-like disorders such as Tay-Sachs, Krabbe disease, senile degen of brain unspecified, and degen of the nervous system due to EtOH.
–The other codes have mostly been split between 125, 126, and 127 based on severity
–Important codes to note are that Alzheimer’s disease, hydrocephalus, and Lewy body dementia all now fall into V28 HCC 127 (mild dementia)
The conditions in this group have been reclassified into 5 groups based on disease severity, presence of psychotic symptoms, and the substance used. In detail:
V24 HCC 54 (Substance Use with Psychotic Complications) has been split into V28 HCC 135 (Drug Use with Psychotic Complications) or V28 136 (Alcohol Use with Psychotic Complications) based on if the disorder is due to EtOH or another substance.
–Codes moving to HCC 135, drug use with psychotic disorder, have an average RAF increase of 0.172,
–Codes moving to HCC 136, alcohol use with psychotic disorder, have an average RAF increase of 0.139
V24 HCC 55 (Substance Use Disorder, Moderate/Severe, or Substance Use with Complications) also has had its code split based on if the codes reference EtOH or other substances
–EtOH or THC use or abuse with intoxication codes have been removed from the model
–EtOH dependence, remission, withdrawal, and abuse or use with complications have all been moved to V28 HCC 139 (Alcohol Use Disorder, Moderate/Severe, or Alcohol Use with Specified Non-Psychotic Complications) with an average RAF decrease of 0.084
–All other codes previously in V24 HCC 55 have been moved to V28 HCC 137 (Drug Use Disorder, Moderate/Severe, or Drug Use with Non-Psychotic Complications) with a RAF increase of 0.059
The conditions in this group have had some minor rearrangements. Depression and bipolar each now have their own HCCs, eating disorders have been added to the HCC for personality disorders, and all forms of nonschizophrenic psychosis now have their own HCC. In detail:
V24 HCC 59 (Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders) has been mostly split between HCC 154 (Bipolar Disorders without Psychosis) and 155 (Major Depression, Moderate or Severe, without Psychosis)
–Any conditions previously in V24 HCC 59 that have psychotic features have been moved to HCC 152 with an RAF increase of 0.174-Only one code (C88.0, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia) was moved to V28 HCC 21 and received a RAF increase of 0.379
–Any codes relating to manic episodes or bipolar disorder (without psychotic features) have been moved to HCC 154 with an RAF increase of 0.017
–Most codes relating to major depressive disorder, suicide attempts, and intentional self-harm have been moved to HCC 155 MDD with an RAF decrease of 0.005
–Important expectations are that V28 has removed codes relating to mild major depressive disorder, depression, or bipolar in remission and any sequela codes relating to self-harm or suicide
Overall the codes in this grouping are largely unchanged. In detail:
V24 HCC 70 (Quadriplegia) has had all of its codes transferred to V28 HCC 180 (Quadriplegia) with a RAF increase of 0.095
V24 HCC 71 (Paraplegia) has had all of its codes transferred to V28 HCC 181 (Paraplegia) with a RAF decrease of 0.100
V24 HCC 72 (Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries) mostly has had its codes moved to V28 HCC 182 (Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries) with a RAF decrease of 0.056. Exceptions to this include:
–Friedrich, cerebellar, and hereditary ataxias have been moved to V28 HCC 200 (Friedreich and Other Hereditary Ataxias; Huntington Disease) with a RAF decrease of 0.199
–Codes used for sequela to spinal cord injuries have been removed from the model
V24 HCC 75 (Myasthenia Gravis/Myoneural Disorders and Guillain-Barre Syndrome/Inflammatory and Toxic Neuropathy) has had several significant changes
-Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuritis and multifocal motor neuropathy have been moved to V28 HCC 193 (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuritis and Multifocal Motor Neuropathy) with a RAF increase of 0.775
-The single ICD-10 for myasthenia gravis with acute exacerbation has been moved to V28 HCC 195 (Myasthenia Gravis with (Acute) Exacerbation) with a RAF increase of 2.354
-Codes relating to Lambert-Eaton, unspecified myoneural disorders, and Myasthenia Gravis without exacerbation have been moved to V28 HCC 196 (Myasthenia Gravis without (Acute) Exacerbation and Other Myoneural Disorders) with a RAF increase of 0.080
-Many other codes that originally were in V24 HCC 75 were removed from the model, important callouts include the removal of most forms of secondary polyneuropathy (neuropathy due to radiation, drugs, EtOH, inflammatory polyneuropathy, and rheumatoid polyneuropathy
-Huntington’s disease has been moved to V28 HCC 200 (Friedreich and Other Hereditary Ataxias; Huntington Disease) with a RAF decrease of 0.284
-Codes related to secondary or drug-induced parkinsonism have been removed from the model
V24 HCC 79 (Seizure Disorders and Convulsions) has had all codes transferred to V28 HCC 201 (Seizure Disorders and Convulsions) with a RAF increase of 0.012
V24 HCC 80 (Coma, Brain Compression/Anoxic Damage) mostly had all its codes transferred to V28 HCC 202 (Coma, Brain Compression/Anoxic Damage) with a RAF increase of 0.067.
For the most part codes in this grouping were largely unchanged. In detail:
V24 HCC 82 (Respirator Dependence/Tracheostomy Status) has had all codes transferred to V28 HCC 211 (Respiratory Dependence/Tracheostomy Status/Complications) with a RAF decrease of 0.044
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