Congestive Heart Failure

What is it? Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump oxygen rich blood effectively, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs. It can be managed with medication, lifestyle changes, and surgery. Ischemic cardiomyopathy (IC) is currently defined as significantly impaired left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%), which results from coronary artery disease (CAD) and is considered to be the most common cause of heart failure.

Financial Impact
The cause of heart failure can significantly impact reimbursement for a facility due to the different DRGs assigned to each diagnosis.