Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Question: Are there any ICD-9-CM updates planned for 2013?

Answer: No ICD-9-CM diagnosis code updates are planned for ICD-9 2013 (effective Oct. 1, 2012). There's a freeze in place until ICD-10-CM replaces ICD-9-CM. And a freeze means no new codes. However, the ICD-9-CM Coordination Committee can make other changes. The committee has resisted making any changes to the alphabetical index and tabular list for ICD-9-CM, but they have made changes to ICD-10-CM.

Plus, there may or may not be changes to the coding guidelines.

Potential changes for the annual ICD-9-CM update usually appear at this time of year in CMS's Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule, but this year's IPPS indicated you won't have to deal with any changes. Instead, your agency can focus on ICD-10 preparation.