ICD 10 Coding Alert

CDC ends diagnosis deep freeze with scores of new codes debuting.

Coders patting themselves on the back for finally memorizing their most often-used ICD-10 code might have to go back to the drawing board.

On April 27, the Federal Register printed the Inpatient Prospective Payment Rule, which includes the new, revised and deleted ICD-10 codes that will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2016 — and the list includes a startling 1,900 new diagnosis codes that will end the partial freeze that the CDC has had in place since 2011. Keep in mind: “The code lists that have been posted on the CMS and CDC websites are NOT the final list. The Addenda to be published in June is the complete, final list of code changes going into effect this October,” says Sue Bowman, MJ, RHIA, CCS, FAHIMA, Senior Director of Coding Policy and Compliance at AHIMA.

No matter what your specialty is, chances are strong that you’ll have dozens of new, deleted or revised codes to study so you can ensure that your practice is using the most accurate codes this October, when the changes take effect.

For example: The CDC added scores of codes to clarify diabetes diagnoses in the E13.3 (Other specified diabetes mellitus with ophthalmic complications) category, including the following, among many others:

• E13.3551 — Other specified diabetes mellitus with stable proliferative diabetic retinopathy, right eye
• E13.3552 — Other specified diabetes mellitus with stable proliferative diabetic retinopathy, left eye
• E13.3553 — Other specified diabetes mellitus with stable proliferative diabetic retinopathy, bilateral

Seromas, Hematomas to Get Own Categories Next Year

The agency also debuted new codes for post-procedural hematomas following procedures, which will fall into new categories. Examples are as follows:

• D78.31 — Postprocedural hematoma of the spleen following a procedure on the spleen
• E89.820 — Postprocedural hematoma of an endocrine system organ or structure following an endocrine system procedure
• H59.331 — Postprocedural hematoma of right eye and adnexa following an ophthalmic procedure

These codes precede partner diagnoses that are proposed to debut on Oct. 1, 2017, which will specifically describe post-procedural seromas to differentiate between seromas and hematomas. “Currently, postoperative seroma would be coded with postoperative hematoma,” according to the meeting minutes from the CDC’s March ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting. However, next year each condition should have its own code set, the meeting minutes reveal.

Resource: For more on the new ICD-10 codes, visit the Federal Register site at https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-09120.pdf.