Practice Management Alert

Feds say new codes will come out after 2007

Healthcare professionals have been hearing about ICD-10, the diagnosis code system that is to replace ICD-9, for years now. However, medical offices are still using ICD-9 codes to describe diagnoses.

So what is the deal with ICD-10? Check out this fact sheet on ICD-10, courtesy of Linda Martien, CPC, CPC-H, overseer of coding operations at National Healing Corporation of Boca Raton, Fla.

Did you know:

- ICD-10 will have two systems--ICD-10-CM, which is the diagnostic coding system for all healthcare applications; and ICD-10-PCS, a procedural coding system for use only on in-patients?

- ICD-10-CM will replace ICD-9-CM volumes 1 and 2, and ICD-10-PCS will replace ICD-9-CM volume 3?

- ICD-10 will not premiere before the fall of 2007?

- the -nearly final- draft of ICD-10 is already finished? The only changes expected before you start using the codes is -a correction of any errors, and an update of ICD-10 codes that parallel new ICD-9 codes,- Martien says.

- the first character of each ICD-10 code is alphabetical? For example, P57.9 (Kernicerus of newborn) and J81 (Pulmonary oedema).