Inpatient Transfers

Transfers, especially those related to inpatient stays, have specific coding guidelines that must be followed to avoid underpayment. It is crucial to correctly interpret and apply these requirements to ensure proper reimbursement. For example, when a patient is transferred from one hospital to another, the first hospital should use a designated transfer DRG when billing. Failing to do so can result in the claim being paid as a regular discharge, typically resulting in lower reimbursement. Therefore, it is important to adhere to these coding requirements to prevent financial losses due to underpayment.