Question

The term ''primary diagnosis'' is the same thing as the first-listed diagnosis.

A) True
B) False

Answer 1

The term 'primary diagnosis' refers to the main condition responsible for a patient's visit, while the 'first-listed diagnosis' may simply be the first one recorded for billing purposes; they are not always the same.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term 'primary diagnosis' is not always the same thing as the first-listed diagnosis. The primary diagnosis is the condition determined after study to be chiefly responsible for causing the patient's symptoms or health problem. In contrast, the first-listed diagnosis is the diagnosis listed first on a medical claim or record and may not always be the primary cause of the visit, especially in cases where multiple diagnoses are present. It is used for billing and coding purposes.