SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Insights Gained From Implementation of More Specific Homelessness Icd-10-Cm Codes

Pdf Summary

This study examined hospital utilization patterns among patients experiencing homelessness using the Vizient Clinical Data Base, comparing the older broad ICD-10 code for homelessness (Z59.0) with the newer FY 2022 codes that distinguish unspecified homelessness (Z59.00), sheltered homelessness (Z59.01), and unsheltered homelessness (Z59.02).<br /><br />The analysis included admissions from FY 2020–2022. Patients experiencing homelessness were mostly male across all groups, but sheltered homeless patients were less likely to be male than unspecified or unsheltered patients. Compared with the earlier single-code group, sheltered homeless patients were less often non-Hispanic white and more often covered by Medicaid or Medicare, while unsheltered patients had a slightly higher proportion of Hispanic patients.<br /><br />Mental health-related diagnoses were the most common reasons for admission in all groups. However, sheltered and unsheltered patients had somewhat fewer admissions for psychoses and substance use-related MS-DRGs than the prior broad homelessness group. Average length of stay increased across all homelessness categories in FY 2022, rising from about 8.6 days to more than 9.4 days overall, with unsheltered patients having the longest stays at 10.2 days. Sheltered and unsheltered patients were also slightly older on average than the unspecified group.<br /><br />The study also found a higher proportion of heart failure-related admissions in FY 2022 compared with FY 2019/2020. Overall, the more specific homelessness ICD-10 codes provided greater insight into differences in demographics, insurance coverage, and reasons for hospitalization among sheltered versus unsheltered patients. The authors conclude that these codes can help hospitals better identify unmet needs and target resources more effectively for patients experiencing homelessness.

Asset Subtitle

Alyssa Harris

Meta Tag

Author List Alyssa Harris

Category Research

Concept ICD-10-CM homelessness codes

Concept Homelessness

Concept Unspecified homelessness

Concept Sheltered homelessness

Concept Unsheltered homelessness

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Vizient

Presenting Author Alyssa Harris

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

homelessness

ICD-10 codes

hospital utilization

Vizient Clinical Data Base

sheltered homelessness

unsheltered homelessness

mental health diagnoses

Medicaid

length of stay

heart failure admissions

ICD-10-CM homelessness codes

Homelessness

Unspecified homelessness

Sheltered homelessness

Unsheltered homelessness