When admitting a patient for an HIV-related condition, which code is sequenced first?

The correct answer is B20, which is the code for "HIV disease." In ICD-10-CM coding, when a patient is admitted specifically for an HIV-related condition, the HIV diagnosis itself is considered the primary condition that requires immediate attention and management. Therefore, it is sequenced first in the coding hierarchy.

B20 represents the patient's status as having a confirmed HIV infection and indicates that the condition is actively contributing to their current health status and treatment plan. Reporting B20 ensures that healthcare providers and insurers acknowledge the patient's HIV status as the primary factor in their care.

In contrast, the other codes do not serve this primary role in the context of an HIV admission. A41.9, for example, refers to sepsis that is unspecified, which may arise in various clinical scenarios but does not specifically indicate the underlying HIV condition. Z21 is used for asymptomatic HIV, which would actually be less applicable in this case, as the patient is admitted for an HIV-related issue. R65.2 pertains to severe sepsis with septic shock, which again might not directly represent the HIV context needed when the patient is admitted for an HIV-related condition.

Thus, correctly prioritizing B20 reflects the focus on managing the HIV disease itself during