Orthopedic Coding Alert

ICD-10:

Osteoarthritis Will Require Heightened Documentation in 2013

Unspecified location? Look to the M19 codes. When ICD-9 becomes ICD-10 in 2013, you will not always have a simple one-to-one relationship between old codes and the new ones. Often, you'll have more options that may require tweaking the way your physician documents a service and a coder reports it. Check out these common osteoarthrosis diagnoses, and discover what you'll report after October 1, 2013. Typically a patient with osteoarthritis might start with his primary care physician, who then refers him to a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist has been treating the patient with conservative measures such as NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Due to increasing symptoms, now poorly controlled by the use of NSAIDS, the rheumatologist requests an orthopedic consultation. He diagnoses osteoarthrosis(715.xx-716. xx). These codes specify location, primary, or secondary. ICD-10 difference: For these codes, you should look to: M15 (Polyosteoarthritis) M16 (Osteoarthritis of hip) M17 (Osteoarthritis of knee) M18 (Osteoarthritis [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.