If a patient can only ambulate with the help of a physical therapist and primarily uses a wheelchair, what is the best coding response?

The correct coding response is 3 because it indicates that the patient requires assistance from someone else, such as a physical therapist, to ambulate effectively. This code reflects that the patient is not fully independent in mobility and relies on support for ambulation, which is consistent with their primary use of a wheelchair.

The rationale behind this coding system is to provide a clear understanding of the patient's functional mobility status, which is crucial for accurately assessing their care needs and potential interventions. The specific coding helps health care providers and payers recognize the level of support required for the patient’s mobility and plan appropriate services or treatments.

In this case, other codes would not accurately represent the patient's reliance on assistance for mobility. The key is understanding that the patient's ability to ambulate independently is severely limited, necessitating specific support, and coding it appropriately allows for the right level of care to be provided.