Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) Practice Exam

The correct coding for a patient with hypertension, acute renal failure, and chronic kidney disease is a combination of N17.9 for acute kidney failure unspecified, I12.9 for hypertensive heart AND chronic kidney disease, and N18.3 for chronic kidney disease stage 3.

This combination accurately captures the complexities of the patient's condition. Specifically, N17.9 is used to represent acute kidney failure when the specifics of the condition are not detailed. Meanwhile, I12.9 properly indicates the relationship between hypertension and chronic kidney disease, allowing for appropriate documentation of how the hypertension is impacting kidney function. N18.3 flags the presence of chronic kidney disease stage 3, helping to define the severity of the chronic condition.

This coding strategy reflects not only the presence of both acute and chronic renal conditions but also appropriately accounts for the impact of hypertension on the kidneys. It is critical in clinical documentation and reimbursement to ensure that all facets of a patient’s health status are represented, which is why this combination of codes is essential in this scenario.