ICD-10-CM Transition Analysis

ICD-9-CM codes could before be labeled in just one code, now with more clinical detail to sort through, ICD-10-CM have many more codes to choose from that are much more detail oriented and specific.

"In the United States, ICD-10 has been used to classify mortality data since 1999, while we continue to use ICD-9-CM for all other purposes, such as billing and morbidity statistics. In addition, government agencies, health care insures, and providers are studying the implications of switching to ICD-10-CM." (Aalseth, 2006)

Coding systems are used in the inpatient and outpatient settings for the classification of patient morbidity and mortality information for statistical use. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Ninth Revision, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) in the 1970s to track mortality statistics across the world. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), is the adaptation the U.S. health system uses as a standard list of six-character alphanumeric codes to describe diagnoses. Globally utilizing a standardized system improves consistency in recording symptoms and diagnoses for payer claims reimbursement, as well as clinical research, and tracking purposes.

As I type these words there are only 20 days until October 1st, AKA, ICD-10 transition day. Most people in the healthcare industry are wondering what that day will be like. What will happen? What will they have to do?

This article discusses how the implementation of the new ICD10 codes are costing more than originally planned. All practices are required to use 2014-certified electronic health-record technology in order to receive funding from a federal electronic health record incentive program. The new estimates for the ICD10 implantation include the cost of such things as education, IT and documentation

The only projects that the organization is currently undergoing is the preparation for the implementation of the new ICD-10 coding. We are hoping that with the new computer coding assistant that it will help the HIM staff transition better and be able to look up the new codes for all the diagnosis and procedures more easily and quickly.

There are two trends that I have learned about from UMA and TV. ICD-10 replacing IDC-9. ICD-10 will provide the medical billing/coder with more descriptions for describing encounters and hospital stay for patients. Where ICD-9 had 3,824 procedure codes and 14,025 diagnosis codes, ICD-10 on the other hand, has 71,924 procedure codes and 69,823 diagnosis codes that is a big difference. The affordable care act also made an impacted on billing/coding since more people are getting procedures done. These procedures will need to be coded and documented for doctors and hospitals to get paid.

21 DIAGNOSIS OR NATURE OF THE ILLNESS OR INJURY - Enter the applicable ICD indicator to identify which version of ICD codes is being reported. Enter the indicator between the vertical, dotted lines in the upper right-hand portion of the field.

The continue use of ICD-9 codes after the effective date could result in the denial of reimbursement claims. This task can be assigned to the healthcare organization’s management team to determine a solution avoiding a break down in the system. Rahmathulla states, “In instances of an audit, appropriate documentation will make the query process substantially easier while enabling coders to clarify issues without having to query the provider multiple times for answers” (“Migration To The ICD-10 Coding System S187). It is important to accurately document to reduce the amount of claim denials. With the new specificity requirement of the ICD-10 and documentation supporting a claim, lowers the chances of healthcare fraud. The healthcare management team will oversee the process to prevent the risk of exposure.

I am choosing ICD-10 Codes. The reason I have chosen ICD-10 codes is because every medical facility uses the ICD-10 codes for the billing and coding. That is the only way they get paid is by using ICD-10 codes. They will all receive adequate payments using the updated codes and the right type of billing.

- amount of procedure codes. ICD-10-CM has 71,924 codes compare to 3,824 codes in ICD-9-CM.

RE: Unit 3 7/27/2015 5:05:08 PM I'm with you Jerica. ICD-9 seems like a cakewalk compared to ICD-10. I think the more work we do the better we will get. CPT coding has been the easiest by far.

The compliance date for implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS) was October 1, 2013 for all covered entities. Although, a number of countries that have already converted to ICD-10:

ICD-10, which is the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problem, refers to a medical classification inventory for the coding of diseases, their signs, symptoms and causes (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 1). The use of this revised version in the United States is scheduled to begin officially on the first of October 2013. Currently, ICD-10 is being used for diagnosis coding, in procedure coding systems and for inpatient procedure coding.

The trends one can find when reading through the articles found under the AHIMA Body of Knowledge pertaining to the coding function is relative to the use of computer-assisted coding, implementation of Electronic Health Record (HER), and the transition to ICD-10-CM.