Claim Diagnosis Code 3 Diagnosis Present on Admission (POA) Indicator Code (Encounter)

SAS Name
CLM_POA_IND_SW3

The present on admission (POA) indicator code associated with the diagnosis codes (principal and secondary; which are the ICD_DGNS_CD1–ICD_DGNS_CD25 fields).

In response to the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, CMS began to distinguish between hospitalization diagnoses that occurred prior to versus during the admission. The objective was to eventually not pay hospitals more if the patient acquired a condition (e.g., infection) during the admission.

This present on admission (POA) field is used to indicate whether the diagnosis was present on admission.

Comments

The present on admission indicators for the diagnosis E codes are stored in CLM_E_POA_IND_SW1– CLM_E_POA_IND_SW10.

Source: Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) 

Code Code value
Y Diagnosis was present at the time of admission (POA)
N Diagnosis was not present at the time of admission
U Documentation is insufficient to determine if condition was present on admission
W Provider is unable to clinically determine whether condition was present on admission