If a surgical wound is healing by primary intention but is not scabbed over, what is the correct response code for M1342?

The correct response code for M1342 in the scenario where a surgical wound is healing by primary intention but is not scabbed over is indeed the designation indicating that the wound is "Not healing."

In the context of wound healing, primary intention refers to wounds that are closed directly, such as surgical incisions where edges are brought together, allowing for optimal healing with minimal scarring. The absence of a scab indicates that there may be some disruption in the healing process or that the wound is still in the granulation phase, which does not necessarily mean it is not healing; however, if it has not yet formed a scab, it might not be considered fully closed.

Therefore, the code indicating "Not healing" accurately reflects the situation where the wound shows signs of delayed healing despite being in a primary intention state. This is essential for documenting the healing process appropriately in the OASIS-E assessment, as it ensures that the wound is monitored and managed properly based on its healing status.

Considering the other options, those would typically represent different stages or conditions of healing that do not apply in this specific case where the wound has not reached the scab formation stage yet, hence reinforcing that "Not healing" is the most suitable response here