How can I use SYNCSORT to format a Packed Decimal field with a specifc sign value?

Question

I want to use SYNCSORT to force all Packed Decimal fields to a negative sign value. The critical requirement is the 2nd nibble must be Hex 'D'. I have a method that works but it seems much too complex. In keeping with the KISS principle, I'm hoping someone has a better method. Perhaps using a bit mask on the last 4 bits? Here is the code I have come up with. Is there a better way?

*
* This sort logic is intended to force all Packed Decimal amounts to
* have a negative sign with a B'....1101' value (Hex 'xD').
*
 SORT FIELDS=COPY
 OUTFIL FILES=1,
   INCLUDE=(8,1,BI,NE,B'....1..1',OR,     * POSITIVE PACKED DECIMAL
            8,1,BI,EQ,B'....1111'),       * UNSIGNED PACKED DECIMAL
   OUTREC=(1:1,7,                         * INCLUDING +0
           8:(-1,MUL,8,1,PD),PD,LENGTH=1,
           9:9,72)
 OUTFIL FILES=2,
   INCLUDE=(8,1,BI,EQ,B'....1..1',AND,    * NEGATIVE PACKED DECIMAL
            8,1,BI,NE,B'....1111'),       * NOT UNSIGNED PACKED DECIMAL
   OUTREC=(1:1,7,                         * INCLUDING -0
           8:(+1,MUL,8,1,PD),PD,LENGTH=1,
           9:9,72)

Answer 1

In the code that processes the VSAM file, can you change the read logic to GET with KEY GTEQ and check for < 0 on the result instead of doing a specific keyed read?

If you did that, you could accept all three negative packed values xA, xB and xD.