question re: section k

[Brenda Chance]

Rena or someone else out there,   In the PPS Alert, there was a question posed about therapeutic diets and tube feedings.  The question was if you had a resident receiving only glucerna tube feedings (no oral intake) due to diabetes, would you code therapeutic diet as well as tube feedings?  I have never done this in the past and this is a gray area.  In the manual, it states “a diet ordered to manage problematic health-conditions.  Examples include calorie-specific, low-salt, low-fat lactose, no added sugar, and supplements during meals.”  The answer was that you would code therapeutic diet.  I have not done this in the past.  If this is the case, then most of our tube feeders would be coded as  a therapeutic diet since it is treating problematic health problems, ie inability to eat, skin breakdown, etc.  What is the correct coding?   Thanks!   Brenda W. Chance, RN, RAC-C MDS Coordinator     CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

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