A patient has stage 3 chronic kidney disease and benign hypertension.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The primary diagnosis should be the chronic kidney disease (N18.3) as it is the reason for the patient's symptoms and medical care needs. The benign hypertension (I12.9) is a coexisting condition that should also be coded. According to coding guidelines, the sequencing of these codes depends on the circumstances of the encounter and provider documentation. In this case, it makes sense to list the chronic kidney disease first since it is the more serious condition and likely the reason for the visit.

A Patient Has Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease and Benign