Documentation must be complete and accurate.

If discharge documentation isn't complete and accurate, coders may not use the correct discharge status code, which could affect a hospital's reimbursement. Discharge status codes identify where patients go after discharge. If patients go to some settings before the geometric mean length of stay, a hospital may receive reduced reimbursement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has also issued a new set of discharge status codes that indicate scheduled readmissions.