Neurosurgery Coding Alert

New codes, additions, and deletions will account for revisions in October.

Prepare to see the first set of annual update in the ICD-10 manual this year. The five-year freeze coders and providers have enjoyed with the ICD-10 system is about to end on Oct. 1, 2016. You can anticipate significant changes going by the information CMS released for public review. If accepted, alterations will include the following:

• 1,943 new codes, 422 revisions, and 305 deletions for ICD-10-CM
• 3,651 new codes, 351 revisions, and 313 deletions for ICD-10-PCS.

Plus: The ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee reviewed proposals for updating ICD-10-CM and PCS. If approved, these would be included in the Oct. 1, 2017, classification system addenda for FY 2018.

Updates allow new or revised codes to encompass recent advances and trends in healthcare. The new codes have arrived sooner than many experts expected.

Sneak peek: One of the revisions of interest to your neurosurgery practice may be placement of intravascular neurostimulators.

The committee reviewed 24 diagnosis proposals, such as:

• Congenital sacral dimple: The American Academy of Pediatrics proposed a new congenital code so this condition can be accurately tracked.
• Zika virus was discussed, regarding a new code being created. NCHS/CDC is proposing it for inclusion in the 10/1/16 addenda which would be consistent with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Learn more: The final addenda with additions/ revisions will be published in June at www.cms.hhs.gov. You can find the ICD-10-CM addendum at www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm. 

Start preparing: In the next few months, make sustained efforts to refine ICD-10 coding practices. Enlist the revisions relevant to your practice and train your staff.

Editor’s note: Watch this space for updates in the next few issues of Neurosurgery Coding Alert.