Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Warning: It will be futile to memorize every code set. If you're educating yourself about ICD-10 implementation, remember one important thing: don't spend your time trying to memorize code sets. Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CENTC, CGSC, COBGC, CPEDC shared that advice with attendees at the AAPC's regional conference in Nashville Sept. 7-9. Buckholtz is vice president of ICD-10 education and training at AAPC and led a general session at the conference entitled "ICD-10: What You Need to Know." "It's too soon to learn code sets, plus there's not much sense in learning them right now because final codes won't go into play until later," Buckholtz said. "It's not a bad idea to start looking at how some of your common diagnoses will change, but you really don't need to start memorizing things." CMS representative urged the same thing during their recent call, "ICD-10 Implementation Strategies for Physicians." "Most practitioners [...]