Orthopedic Coding Alert

Remember, ICD-10-CM 2019 begins on October 1, 2018.

The final list of ICD-10-CM codes for 2019 includes more than 300 new codes and nearly 200 revisions. That’s a lot to digest; orthopedic coders, however, probably won’t have too much to worry about when it comes to new codes.

According to Heidi Stout, BA, CPC, COSC, PCS, CCS-P, with Coder on Call, Inc., in Milltown, New Jersey, there aren’t any significant changes that will affect ortho offices in 2019.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind for 2019, however — as you never know what types of diagnoses you might run into at your practice. Check out this quick rundown on ICD-10-CM 2019.

ICD-10-CM Reworks Myalgia Section

For orthopedic practices that might treat a patient with myalgia, there are a couple of changes.

The ICD-10-CM manual for 2019 will include the following codes:

• M79.10 — Myalgia, unspecified site
• M79.11 — Myalgia of mastication muscle
• M79.12 — Myalgia of auxiliary muscles, head and neck
• M79.18 — Myalgia, other site.

This makes reporting for myalgia more specific, which will help the provider paint a more accurate picture of the patient’s condition. In 2018, you would have reported M79.1 (Myalgia) for any type of myalgia.

Remember: According to CMS, you should start using the 2019 codes later this year, as per usual. “These 2019 ICD-10 codes are to be used for discharges occurring from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019,” CMS reports on its website.

To see all of the documents related to ICD-10-CM 2019, go to: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/2019-ICD-10-PCS.html.

---