In which circumstance would "status post" be coded?

In the context of ICD-10-CM coding, "status post" refers to a condition that follows a previous surgical procedure or treatment that may still have implications for the patient's current health status. The most applicable circumstance for coding "status post" is when there has been a prior surgery with relevance, as the impacts of that surgery may still influence the patient's ongoing care, even if the original condition is no longer active.

For instance, if a patient underwent gallbladder removal and is now presenting with abdominal pain, it might be coded as "status post cholecystectomy" to indicate the significance of the earlier surgical intervention in the context of the patient's current health.

In contrast, documenting new symptoms pertains to documenting active conditions rather than previous interventions. Similarly, while a prior condition that is no longer active might be relevant in historical context, it does not justify the use of "status post," which specifically relates to previous procedures. Ongoing treatment of an illness again indicates active management of a current health issue, rather than referencing the implications of previous surgical history. Thus, "status post" is most accurately used in conjunction with a previous surgery that continues to have relevance to the patient's current health situation.