Home Health & Hospice Week

Fewer changes this year signal that ICD-10 preparations are under way. It's that time again. At the end of this week you'll have 122 new, deleted, or revised ICD-9 codes to master. Make sure you're ready with this handy preparation list. The ICD-9 code set gets updated each year, but this year brings fewer changes than usual. Coders aren't seeing as many updates to ICD-9 for 2011 because resources are focusing on ICD-10 preparation, says certified coder Joan L. Usher with JLU Health Record Systems in Pembroke, Mass. Come 2013, you'll have a whole new diagnosis coding system. To get ready for the 2011 ICD-9 changes effective Oct. 1, take the following steps: • Purchase a new 2011 ICD-9-CM coding manual. An updated manual is your most important tool in your quest for coding accuracy. • Update cheat sheets and destroy the old ones. Remember, it's better not to use [...]