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Get a Grip on New ICD-9 Codes That Affect Your Lab
Published on Sat Jul 26, 2008
From carcinoid tumor to Pap smears, make sure you-re ready for diagnosis. With more than 125 lab-relevant diagnosis codes in the pipeline for late 2008, you can't afford to wait to learn about the proposed ICD-9 code list. Resource: We-ve charted the most important changes for you, but you can find the full list in the April 30 Federal Register. Remember: Since HIPAA's passage, there is no grace period for new ICD-9 codes. You-ve got to be ready to go with the new codes on Oct. 1, says Joan Gilhooly, CPC, CHCC, president of Medical Business Resources in Chicago. The AMA has approved the following codes for use, but slight changes are possible before the list is finalized over the summer. For all the latest news on ICD-9 2009, check out future issues of Pathology/Lab Coding Alert.