Neonate Coding

Hello Charge Nurses:  There has been some confusion about proper coding for our neonate patients.  This is important because it affects our billing for this population.  I hope this clarifies how to appropriately code this population. * Please DO NOT change the coding for our current patients* Once we have coded them PEDS, we can not go back to neonate.  That being said, please refer to the notes below for our future NICU grads and transfers from outside hospitals:

• If a baby is born at MUSC, they are considered a neonate until discharged.
• If a baby is born elsewhere and is transferred here within their first 30 days of life, they are considered a neonate until discharged.
•  If a baby is born (here or elsewhere) and readmitted within the first 30 days of life, they are considered a neonate until discharged.   
• If a baby is born elsewhere and is more than 30 days old when transferred here, they are considered peds (even if they have never been discharged home). 

This means that our NICU grads who are here for months should be coded as neonates until discharge.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  
Thanks,
Erin