Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Changes will make some diagnosis codes longer, more specific.

Whatever happened to ICD-10? Don't throw your ICD-9 manual away just yet. It looks like you-re still a few years away from implementing the next generation of diagnosis codes.

In January, the Bush administration and Medicare's ICD-10 final rule put off until Oct. 1, 2013, the date that CMS requires doctors and hospitals to start using ICD-10 codes for the 2014 ICD-10 code year. Previously, CMS had proposed to replace the ICD-9 codes with ICD-10 on Oct. 1, 2011. Not only would the new code set completely overhaul your claims systems, software, and superbills -- but it could require a lot of training for your staff.

And now all of that is in limbo.The White House is reviewing any new or pending regulations issued under the Bush administration.In a Jan. 15 memo, a CMS spokesman said White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has"put a hold on all regulations that have either not been published or those that have not yet taken legal effect."Further, former Sen.Tom Daschle, who was President Obama-s pick to head Health and Human Services, withdrew his name from consideration Feb.3.

Devil's in the details: Think you have a hard time getting your physicians to be specific enough in their notes now? The ICD-10 system is much more particular: It uses as many as seven alphanumeric digits instead of the current three to five digits.

To give you a glimpse of just how different the codes are, under ICD-9, 032.1 is the code for nasopharyngeal diphtheria. Under ICD-10, nasopharyngeal diphtheria is A36.1.