ICD-10

Overview

One thing coders can depend on these days is change – and not just the annual changes associated with code updates. In the past decade, we’ve seen the advent of electronic claims submission, the standardization of code sets through HIPAA legislation and a trend toward electronic medical records and computer assisted coding. Software is replacing coding books, and auto-adjudication is today’s standard way of doing business. It’s a whole new world – and the changes keep coming.

Each change brings with it problems: Cost of conversion. Learning curve. Training and education.  And cost of implementation.

A major change to health care reporting has been on the horizon for more than a decade and is likely nearing fruition.  The change to ICD-10-CM for diagnostic code reporting across all of health care — and the implementation of ICD-10-PCS (Procedural Coding System) for inpatient procedural reporting for hospitals and payers — is at least a few years away and surrounded in controversy.  The number of diagnostic codes under ICD-10-CM will swell from 13,500 to 120,000. For inpatient procedures, the number jumps from 4,000 codes to 200,000.

The American Academy of Professional Coders understands the magnitude of the proposed change to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding systems. We are dedicating this space to providing news and information on the new diagnostic and inpatient procedural coding systems as it becomes available.  We will regularly be adding new information and categories to our ICD-10 site, so check in periodically. We’ll also be keeping everyone up-to-date on ICD-10 actions in Congress, the legislature, or through our lobbying activities in the emails you receive from AAPC and in regular articles in the Coding Edge magazine.  Keep up with your AAPC news, and you’ll keep informed on ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS.

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