Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: All of the upcoming ICD-10 additions are overwhelming. There are going to be 45 new non-pressure ulcer codes? How can our practice stay up-to-date on all the changes and revisions?

North Dakota Subscriber

Answer: The new ICD-10 2018 changes/additions will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2017, and you will see 45 new non-pressure chronic ulcer code choices. Some examples are:

• L97.305, Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified ankle with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
• L97.306, Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified ankle with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
• L97.308, Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified ankle with other specified severity.

To stay up-to-date on the latest ICD-10 2018 revisions and additions, turn to the following advice from Machelle Morningstar, CPC, COC, CEMC, COSC, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer and owner/consultant at Morningstar Coding and Reimbursement Consultants in Charleston, South Carolina.

"I attend the Coordination and Maintenance Meetings at CMS, either in person or via phone conference, which gives me a great deal of information," Morningstar says. "I also subscribe to several publications and follow the rule-making processes for ICD-10, as well as CPT^®."

Morningstar adds that when she learns about new codes, she Googles them to see what information she can find, and she researches topics she doesn't know about to gain a better understanding.

"Coding is a never-ending learning process," Morningstar says. "I would encourage coders to attend at least one Coordination and Maintenance Meeting and a CPT^® Editorial Panel Meeting during their career to get a feel for the processes that go into the new codes and guidance."